Construction Engineering Australia V4.03 June/July 2018

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PROUD MEDIA PARTNER

CONCRETE INSTITUTE of

AUSTRALIA

CONSTRUCTION ENGINEERING AUSTRALIA JUNE/JULY 2018

V4.03

CONSTRUCTION CIVIL WORKS CIVIL ENGINEERING PRINT POST APPROVED - 100001889

EXPERT, INDEPENDENT, THIRD-PARTY STEEL CERTIFICATION TO AUSTRALIAN AND NEW ZEALAND STANDARDS

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contents Published by:

Editorial and Publishing Consultants Pty Ltd

ABN 85 007 693 138 PO Box 510, Broadford Victoria 3658 Australia Phone: 1300 EPCGROUP (1300 372 476) Int’l: +61 3 5784 3438 Fax: +61 3 5784 2210 www.epcgroup.com Publisher and Managing Editor Anthony T Schmidt Phone: 1300 EPCGROUP (1300 372 476) Mobile: 0414 788 900 Email: ats@epcgroup.com Business Development Manager Lawrence Whiter Mobile: 0418 543 821 Email: lawrencewhiter@bigpond.com National Advertising Sales Manager Yuri Mamistvalov Phone: 1300 EPCGROUP (1300 372 476) Mobile: 0419 339 865 Email: yuri@epcgroup.com Advertising Sales - SA Jodie Gaffney - AmAgo Mobile: 0439 749 993 Email: jodie@amago.com.au Advertising Sales - WA Licia Salomone - OKeeffe Media Mobile: 0412 080 600 Email: licia@okm.com.au Graphic Design Annette Epifanidis Mobile: 0416 087 412

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CIRCULATION 12400 Registered by Australia Post Publication No. 100001889

ISSN 2204-7247

2

Editorial

4

Industry News

8

Special Report: Smart Cities

JUNE/JULY 2018 Volume 4 Number 3

10 Cover Feature: ACRS Traceability 14 Case Study: St Stephens Cathedral

14

roof remodelling

16 Company Profile: Titan Australia 18

Innovative Solutions

20 Product Focus 22 Company Profile: OLI Concrete

18

Vibrators

24 Special Feature: Combilift Grand Opening

26 Cement + Concrete

36

30 Concrete Institute News 38 National Precast Feature 46 Precast Technology 50 IPWEA NSW News 54 ACA Corrosion Feature

54

About the Cover ACRS is finalising development of a new end-to-end traceability scheme for steel to provide a uniform assessment framework across the supply chain.

This new scheme complements existing traceability provisions in the ACRS product certification scheme between steel mills, and the subsequent steel processing and fabricating by including traders and distributors.

Turn to Page 10 for the full story.

EDITORS COLUMN

Funding the Needs of an Ageing Rural and Regional Population Dear Readers, One of my favourite things about being in this line of work is that it presents me with an ideal opportunity to travel extensively throughout Australia. Perhaps most importantly, rather than simply focusing on our capital cities, I also get the chance to regularly travel throughout much of rural and regional Australia - visiting municipalities both large and small.

While the area defined as ‘Rural and Regional Australia’ is clearly as diverse as Australia is large - with individual towns, cities and municipalities each facing their own particular circumstances and challenges - there does appear to be one major issue now facing all rural and regional councils, namely, the additional strain being placed on Local Government services and facilities as a result of an ageing population.

Whilst the issues relating to an ageing population are clearly also a major concern for metropolitan councils (and one which I in no way intend to understate or trivialise) I believe that there are a number of additional factors that make this an even larger problem for rural and regional councils – a fact which has been confirmed by both Census data and numerous other studies and reports.

Put simply, the ever-increasing average population age gap between the city and 2

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

the country places a massive financial burden on rural and regional councils as they struggle to provide additional services and facilities.

In recent years, rural and regional areas have experienced a steep increase in the percentage of residents aged 55 or over.

Together with the fact that most Australians are now living longer, in rural areas it is common practice for those who have spent their life on the land to move ‘off the farm’ and into a nearby town when they retire - generally for reasons of better access to services.

In addition, ever-increasing numbers of older people and/or retirees are moving out of the major capitals and into rural and regional cities.

While many of these people are simply looking for a change in their lifestyle, there are also those who are taking advantage of the massive growth in property values that has occurred in the major capitals over recent years - selling up and trading up for more affordable real estate in regional areas.

Not surprisingly, the increasing ‘age imbalance’ between the city and the country is a serious concern and is already shaping up as a major threat to many councils throughout rural and regional Australia. Councils are not only being faced with a sharp increase in demand for human services, they’re also under

constantly growing pressure to provide more suitable age-related infrastructure, such as aged care facilities and community amenities.

In these days of tight fiscal policy and high community expectations, Local Government is undoubtedly accustomed to being asked to ‘do more with less’ – a factor that is further compounded by their restricted ability to raise revenue through rates and user charges.

Be that as it may, there will surely come a time when there are quite simply no more funds available - and on current trends it appears that that time is rapidly approaching.

With that in mind, I believe that the only way that we can possibly hope to address these issues with any level of success, is for all levels of government to work together in a co-operative and equitable manner to develop the facilities and services that are needed.

After all, the population continues to age on a daily basis - and that leaves no time for political ‘buck passing’.

Anthony T Schmidt Managing Editor

INDUSTRY NEWS

MORE ENGINEERING PROFESSIONALS TO RECEIVE A PAY RISE – BUT THE VALUE WILL BE LESS STEEL STANDARD MAKING AN IMPACT EVERYDAY

Over half (52 per cent) of engineering, construction & property industry employers will give their staff a pay rise of less than 3 per cent in their next review, while 11 per cent will not increase salaries at all. That’s according to the 2018-19 Hays Salary Guide.

Based on a survey of more than 3,000 organisations, the recently released Hays Salary Guide shows a further 28 per cent will increase salaries between 3 to 6 per cent while 9 per cent will raise them by 6 per cent or more.

Compared to their last review, when 17 per cent of engineering, construction & property employers gave no increases and 15 per cent increased by 6 per cent or above, the findings show that more professionals will receive an increase but fewer will receive a raise at the higher level of 6 per cent and above.

Despite this, the engineering, construction & property industry remains more generous than most. On average and across all industries, 18 per cent of employers will give staff an increase of 3 to 6 per cent. Just 6 per cent will increase by 6 per cent or more.

Engineering workers however have even higher expectations for a salary increase, with 23 per cent expecting to receive 6 per cent or more.

Employees have also prioritised a pay rise. Two-thirds (67 per cent) say a salary increase is their number one

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

career priority this year. If their employer doesn’t offer a pay rise, almost half (48 per cent, up from 45 per cent last year) will request one.

The Hays Salary Guide also found: • 43 per cent of employers expect to increase permanent engineering staff levels in the next 12 months, far exceeding the 8 per cent who say they’ll decrease; • Meanwhile 25 per cent expect to increase their use of temporary and contract engineering staff, also exceeding the 13 per cent who anticipate decreasing in this area; • 25 per cent of organisations now employ temporary and contract engineering staff on a regular ongoing basis and another 49 per cent employ them for special projects or workloads; • Business activity increased for 74 per cent of employers in the past 12 months, while 77 per cent expect it to increase in the next 12 months; • 40 per cent foresee a strengthening economy in the coming six to 12 months; • 32 per cent of employers say staff turnover has increased in their organisation over the last 12 months; The annual Hays Salary Guide is now in its 40th year.

You can download a copy of the 2018-19 Hays Salary Guide by visiting: www.hays.com.au/salary

The steel used to construct fences, lighting poles, steel framed houses and shelves in major retailers is the focus of a newly published standard backed by Australian research and the latest technology.

“The type of steel covered by this standard, often referred to as light gauge steel, is everywhere,” said CEO of Standards Australia, Dr Bronwyn Evans.

“Not only is it in the shelves and racks of popular retailers and major warehouses around Australia, but many shopping centres will also use this steel in construction, proving the far-reaching impact of the standard.”

AS/NZS 4600:2018, Cold-formed steel structures has been published following extensive consultation with stakeholders across Australia and New Zealand.

This standard also has the potential to be a primary reference in the National Construction Code 2019.

“World-leading research undertaken by Australian experts has featured prominently in this standard,” said Dr Evans. “There is also a brand new section on fire design guiding the use of this steel in mitigating the impact of fires.”

“This new standard is a quantum leap forward for the steel industry,” said Chair of the Standards Australia Technical Committee responsible for the standard, Professor Greg Hancock. “This is a world leading standard which places Australia at the top of the list in terms of the most innovative steel consumers.”

“The benefit of this standard goes well beyond the steel industry,” said Dr Evans.

“With such widespread use of this steel, the Australian and New Zealand public as a whole have the potential to see the changes intended by this standard.”

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INDUSTRY NEWS

SURGE IN COMMERCIAL BUILDING APPROVALS DRIVES UP JOBS GROWTH

The latest ABS building approvals data shows a 13 per cent rise non-residential building approvals recorded over the 12 months to April 2018.

Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia said, “This surge in commercial building, including the construction of offices and new facilities in the education, health and aged care sectors has been a major driver of jobs growth and is set to continue.”

“In the past year alone, the industry created more than 100,000 new skilled jobs, accounting for more than 1 in every 4 new jobs created. That means employment growth in building and construction was 9.6 per cent, three times the rate of jobs growth in the wider economy,” she said.

“More than 370,000 small builders are playing a key role in kicking the surge in jobs growth along. People should pay more attention, there are more small businesses in building and construction than any other sector in the economy,” Denita Wawn said.

“In the residential building sector, the total number of new dwelling units approved in April was 18,701, up by 1.9 per cent over the year, supporting Master Builders’ view that the trough in the housing construction cycle is likely to be moderate and short lived,” she said.

“Continued growth in the work done by the industry is forecast to continue but it can’t be taken for granted.

Investment decisions and business confidence, particularly in the commercial construction sector are heavily impacted by the policies of political parties,” Denita Wawn said.

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

LEEA AND IPAF WORKING TOGETHER TO THE BENEFIT OF MEMBERS The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) CEO, Dr Ross Moloney, recently met with Tim Whiteman, CEO of The International Powered Access Federation (IPAF), and Richard Whiting, UK Market General Manager for IPAF, to discuss shared approaches for supporting members as well as exploring opportunities to work closely together in the future across the sector.

“It was a pleasure to welcome Tim and Richard to LEEA’s office. This meeting is part of our determination at LEEA to work across the sector to deliver more benefit for our members,” says Dr Moloney. “We see this as the start of an exciting period of cooperation between our two organisations.”

IPAF promotes the safe and effective use of powered access equipment worldwide through technical advice and information, influencing and interpreting legislation and standards, and safety initiatives and training programmes.

Tim Whiteman IPAF (left) greeted by Ross Moloney at LEEA's office in Huntingdon, UK

The not-for-profit organisation is owned by its members, which include manufacturers, rental companies, distributors, contractors and users. IPAF members operate a majority of the Mobile Elevating Work Platfrorms (MEWP) rental fleet worldwide and manufacture about 85% of platforms on the market.

ABOUT LEEA The Lifting Equipment Engineers Association (LEEA) is established across the globe as the leading representative body for all those involved in the lifting industry worldwide for over 70 years. It is the respected and authoritative representative body for its members who work in every aspect of the industry, from design, manufacture, refurbishment and repair, through to the hire, maintenance and use of lifting equipment.

For further information, please visit: www.leeaint.com

FINAL REPORT INTO ‘SECURITY OF PAYMENT’ LAWS WELCOMED Master Builders Australia has welcomed the release of the report

by Mr John Murray AM following a comprehensive review of various current Security of Payment regimes operating around Australia.

“Everybody who is entitled to be paid, should be paid. Security of Payment is a vital function as it protects all building industry participants and ensures that businesses, and therefore their workers, get paid,” Denita Wawn, CEO of Master Builders Australia said.

“The 300+ page report is a comprehensive contribution to what is an important issue for many participants in the building and construction industry, right up and down the supply and contracting chain,” she said.

“Mr Murray should be commended on the extensive work undertaken to complete the Report which is a welcome contribution to this policy debate,” Denita Wawn said.

“Security of Payment law assists in helping industry ensure businesses receive

payment when due, however the various regimes have become more complex and divergent in recent years,” she said.

“Master Builders has long supported the goal of greater uniformity and consistency of Security of Payment law across the states and territories to increase industry understanding, clarify uncertainty, reduce complexity and boost payment compliance outcomes,” Denita Wawn said.

“The history of Security of Payment law shows that more regulation does not always mean better outcomes on the ground, particularly for small subcontractors, and urged all stakeholders to consider the reports 86 recommendations in a sensible and practical way,” she said.

“We will carefully consider the report and its recommendations following extensive consultation with our 32,000 members across the country. Naturally there will be a range of views given the existing differences from one jurisdiction to the next, and we hope the focus can be on finding common ground,” Denita Wawn said.

7–11 October

Congress Dates

The 5th International Federation of Structural Concrete (fib) Congress is coming to Australia in 2018.

7–11 October 2018

The Congress, focusing on the theme “Better – Smarter – Stronger”, is dedicated to bringing together leaders and practitioners in the concrete industry from all over the world.

The multidisciplinary theme of the Congress provides an excellent forum to share knowledge, and to learn about advances in the concrete world.

With over 580 abstracts submitted from over 50 countries and across 25 themes, there is something for everybody!

Registration Now Open

Features include: • 4 day technical program with over 350 presentations • 5 excellent key note speakers from around the globe • Exhibitors of concrete products & services from all over the world • fib Awards for Outstanding Concrete Structures Gala Dinner • Opportunities to connect with world leading concrete practitioners A Conference of this type is a once in a life time opportunity for the Australian concrete industry to show the world what we can do in our own backyard. Head to our website to secure your registration and find out more.

Professor Stephen Foster Congress Chair

www.fibcongress2018.com

SPECIAL REPORT

Smart Cities Improving standards of urban living

by Jonathan Wilkins, Marketing Director, EU Automation The United Nations has reported that by 2050, 66 per cent of the world’s population will live in urban areas.

Escalating numbers of urban residents has increased the strain on public services, infrastructure and resources.

One potential solution to this is smart technology, which is being used to improve quality of life for growing populations around the world. Here, Jonathan Wilkins, marketing director at obsolete equipment supplier EU Automation, discusses developments in some of the world’s most advanced smart cities.

Across the globe, cities are becoming smarter, by incorporating sensor-based Internet of Things (IoT) technologies and city-wide initiatives to try and improve the lives of the residents. Lux Research has suggested that the world will deploy a trillion sensors by 2020, drastically increasing the amount of available data from the world’s cities.

A growing number of nations are announcing their commitment to smart city development. In India, for example, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced a $7.4 billion initiative with the aim of creating 100 smart cities by 2020. In Latin America, Panama is emerging as the region’s first smart city in an attempt to solve traffic congestion and other problems in the city.

In Rwanda, Kigali is being transformed into a smart city, optimised for urban living.

With so many new players emerging, we look at some of the leading smart cities, setting the example for the rest of the world.

Singapore The island city state of Singapore can be regarded as the world’s premier smart city.

The ambitious Smart Nation programme was launched in 2014 and Singapore has been at the forefront of the smart city movement ever since. The island already boasts fibre network access across its 8

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

entirety, three mobile devices for every two people and a huge network of sensors and cameras providing a large pool of data for analysis.

Singapore’s sweeping effort is likely to impact the life of every single resident.

At the moment, 80 per cent of residents live in apartments maintained by the Housing and Development Board, which has given the government a healthy testing ground for smart technology. Individual apartments are equipped with IoT sensors to measure energy usage, waste production and water usage. It is important that the island monitors these, as Singapore imports billions of gallons of water from neighbouring Malaysia. The IoT devices can feed into vacuum waste management systems, solar panels or water reclamation equipment.

IoT technology is not limited to homes.

Singapore is also monitoring the health of its citizens and is currently testing a monitoring system for elderly relatives, which notifies a caregiver or family member if a lack of activity is detected. A tele-health system that enables remote treatment for medical care is also being trialled.

As a part of its transition to a smart city, Singapore is also testing autonomous vehicles such as shuttles and taxis. By 2020, the government has mandated a satellite

navigation system in all vehicles, providing a wealth of data for location monitoring and traffic analysis.

Singapore’s unique geography and political situation has enabled it to test and commercialise ideas without a lengthy regulatory process, so Singapore is likely to remain at the forefront of this change.

Boston The US government announced in September 2015 that it was committing $160 million to support smart cities over the next five years. One city in particular that has embraced smart city technology is Boston, Massachusetts, where technology is being embedded along and underneath the streets.

So far, Beacon Street and Massachusetts Avenue have become Smart Streets, with cameras and sensors monitoring navigation and interaction between drivers, pedestrians and other road users.

The city is working with mobile network provider, Verizon, to aggregate the data to learn more about road safety hazards and test smart services. Alongside its cameras and sensors, the city has worked with Verizon to develop a web application for data analysis, visualisation and reporting.

Boston is a leader in the global Vision Zero initiative, which aims to reduce the number

SPECIAL REPORT

of fatal traffic crashes using technology to collect data on the behaviour of drivers.

Boston has also unveiled a number of apps to improve the day-to-day experiences of residents. These include apps for paying parking tickets and reporting potholes.

There’s also a mobile app for Hubway, the city’s bike share system, which shows users bike availability in real-time.

Like Singapore, Boston has also started testing autonomous vehicles. In 2017, startup nuTunomy Inc. began testing driverless cars in a 191-acre park. The project is set to expand once certain targets have been reached.

Oslo Oslo has implemented city-wide smart technology to make its streets, transport and buildings greener. One piece of technology showing particularly positive results is smart streetlights that respond to weather forecasts and light conditions, which have reduced energy costs for the city by 70 per cent.

Oslo is highly rated for its excellent quality of life and it is now striving to be smarter, more inclusive and more creative. As a part of this, the city runs a regular contest, SmartOslo, where entrepreneurs and startups can pitch their ideas to improve the city.

In addition, the city has started a tenyear programme called FutureBuilt, a collaborative project that aims to support climate-friendly urban development by incorporating and integrating new technology. The project involves almost a dozen partners that are working to build climate-friendly buildings and districts. The new facilities will be of high architectural quality and near to transport hubs and one school built as part of the scheme has automated energy recovery and rooftop classrooms.

In Oslo, 60 per cent of the city’s greenhouse emissions are generated by the transport sector. The city has embraced electric vehicles (EVs) by introducing incentives to encourage more people to choose these vehicles, such as not having

to pay the 25 per cent sales tax and being able to use the bus lane. The electrical infrastructure has been improved to match, adding 2,000 charging points at key points around the city.

There’s a lot of work to be done for our cities to be ready for the increased population and urbanisation of 2050, but in every continent projects and schemes are pioneering new developments, technologies and ideas to improve city life.

This is expected to continue as more nations dedicate funding to projects that will help to lead the way.

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

9

COVER FEATURE

INTRODUCING

THE NEW ACRS

STEEL TRACEABILITY SCHEME ACRS (Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels Ltd) is finalising development of a new end-to-end traceability scheme for steel to provide a uniform assessment framework across the supply chain.

This new scheme complements existing traceability provisions in the ACRS product certification scheme between steel mills, and the subsequent steel processing and fabricating by including traders and distributors.

Why is Traceability so Important?

Traceability is a crucial ability for quickly and effectively investigating customer complaints and managing potential product recalls. This links directly to improved quality and product consistency and compliance. Additionally, traceability certification helps identify any root causes of defective products so they can be isolated and any supplier issues dealt with effectively.

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

It's often the case that this chain of traceability breaks down within complex manufacturing processes, which is why it's so important to focus on this particular area of the value chain.

Finally, mistakes can sometimes happen, where products are inadvertently mixed and dispatched to an unsuspecting customer.

So why choose the ACRS traceability scheme certification?

Increasing Demand Compliance mandates are increasing – as are the associated costs of fines for non-compliance. For instance, traceability is integral to the international

COVER FEATURE

quality standard, ISO 9001 and to the recently released Steelwork Fabrication and Erection Standard, AS/NZS 5131.

Customers are also demanding better clarity and confidence that materials supplied to their projects are compliant.

ACRS simple end-to-end certification, including traceability, provides the clearest, easiest, and most comprehensive system available for approval authorities, steel suppliers and the public.

Protecting Reputation With competitive pressures on the rise and consumer confidence becoming harder to earn and maintain, steel suppliers are finding that now, more than ever, there is a need to protect their brands and reputations. ACRS expert product certification scheme provides the best available protection for compliant steel product suppliers and differentiates them clearly and effectively from non-compliant competitors.

This benefit will be significantly enhanced

by ACRS traceability certification of trading and distribution sources, where appropriate.

Increasing Customer Satisfaction and Safety In the event a problem occurs, manufacturers are able to minimise the impact by only recalling those items with the specific serial numbers that were built with the faulty component, material or process, significantly reducing expenses, customer impact and reputational damage.

ACRS certification of products and traceability of materials substantially reduces the likelihood of supply of noncompliant materials.

WHY HAS ACRS DEVELOPED A STEEL TRACEABILITY SCHEME? The impetus for the ACRS scheme and benefit for ACRS certificate holders and public safety is driven by the increasingly recognised need to:

Improving Internal Quality Controls Internationally, suppliers are turning to traceability solutions to help close some of the information gaps which exist in increasingly disparate, global supply chains, to track data and to meet customer safety and demand requirements.

ACRS rigorous assessment delivers the most comprehensive system available, enabling suppliers to refine and improve their systems.

• Manage governance and consumer risk effectively through a widely distributed, often global supply chain;

How do I apply, or ask questions?

Simply contact ACRS at: info@steelcertification.com or phone: +61 02 9965 7216 for a no-obligation discussion.

• Meet increasing regulatory focus on product traceability through credible certification from the most trusted steel certification body in Australia and New Zealand; • Provide reasonable, but rigorous traceability at minimum cost to certificate holders.

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

11

COVER FEATURE

INDEPENDENT, EXPERT, THIRD PARTY CERTIFICATION The only way to be truly sure that the materials being used conform fully with the appropriate Australian and New Zealand Standards and are fit for purpose, is through independent, expert, third party validation and certification.

ACRS provides a fully independent, expert assessment and certification for both Australian and internationally sourced construction steels, including reinforcing steels, structural steels and prestressing steels.

All ACRS auditors are fully qualified metallurgists with many years of experience working with steels.

ACRS certification makes checking for compliance with the relevant Australian and New Zealand Standards easy. It demonstrates INDEPENDENTLY and EXPERTLY that the supplier consistently meets the Standards stated on the certificate.

By using ACRS certified construction steels, builders and contractors can be confident that they are getting the AS/NZS compliant materials that they ordered, and engineers and building certifiers can be confident that steel meets the requirements of the Building Code and associated Standards.

WHAT ARE YOUR TAGS REALLY TELLING YOU? Your products may arrive with tags, but what do they really tell you?

While at first glance the example on the left may appear to tell you all you need to know (there’s even a reference to an Australian Standard) it’s missing some CRITICAL information, including the manufacturer and point of origin.

The example ACRS tag on the right provides all of the information needed and, most importantly, the validity of the certificate number and other information can be checked and verified online quickly and easily at: www.steelcertification.com

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

AREN’T TEST CERTIFICATES THE SAME THING? Test Certificates, ARE NOT the same as ACRS independent certification. Test certificates from the supplier are simply a “snapshot” of the manufacturer’s own test results of the material on the certificate, not its regular supply.

ACRS certification demonstrates INDEPENDENTLY and EXPERTLY that the supplier manufactures consistently to the Standards stated on the certificate.

Unless you are going to check and validate EVERY single test certificate against EVERY delivery, you should check the ACRS certificates for the manufacturer and supplier instead.

For further information about the validity of certification for any materials being supplied into your project, please visit the ACRS website: www.steelcertification.com, or contact ACRS on (02) 9965 7216.

Beyond checking the supplier’s ACRS certificate, product markings and tags, there’s no need for you to make any further checks on ACRS certified materials.

• No more checking materials properties against technical specifications; • No more checking batch numbers against the test certificates.

In addition to factory production control audits and independent testing, the ACRS scheme provides regular review and analysis of all products manufactured and supplied by the certified supplier. This makes matching material to conformity documentation simple and effective for the customer and for any verifier.

ACRS' Product Certification Scheme provides certification of reinforcing and prestressing steels, structural steels and associated products against a wide range of applicable Australian and New Zealand Standards and specifications.

ACRS 'END-TO-END' TRACEABILITY What Does End-to-End Really Mean?

First, let's define ‘end-to-end’.

When we say ‘end-to-end’, we're talking about the ability to track information on all raw materials, components, and associated processes across the supply chain, including the design, manufacturing, supply and delivery phases. ‘End-to-end’ traceability is directly comparable to ACRS product certification scheme’s cornerstone ‘All products, all locations rule’ which has provided market confidence in steels supplied under ACRS product certification for nearly 20-years.

Enhancing the ‘Chain of Certification’ Construction steels manufactured to AS/NZS Standards can be rendered non-conforming by poor transformation, e.g. through such processes as cutting, bending and welding. Certification systems that only assess the mill of manufacture do not provide for validated performance to Standards of the as-delivered product.

In steel reinforcing materials, the ACRS scheme, through its certification of steel reinforcement (“rebar”) processors and the mills of manufacture, provides a rigorous mechanism for “bookending” the manufacture and transformation. This 'chain of certification' provides a vital link between the steel manufacturer and the construction site.

For any steel to be ACRS certified, it must have been manufactured by an ACRS Certified supplier. Any break in the ‘chain of certification’ of the mill and the processor means the steel delivered to site is not ACRS certified.

COVER FEATURE

ACRS Reinforcing Steel Chain of Certification Casting Mill

Steel Maker

D-Bar/Coil D-Bar Manufacture (including Traceability)

Steel Reinforcing Cutting, Bending and Welding (including Traceability)

Rod Coil Manufacture

Rod Coil Manufacture

Wire Manufacture (including Traceability)

PC Wire and/or Strand Manufacture (including Traceability)

Mesh Manufacture (including Traceability)

Trader, Distributor, Stockist

Ancillary Products - e.g. couplers (including Traceability)

Trader, Distributor, Stockist

TRACEABILITY

TRACEABILITY

For reinforcing steels, ACRS certifies BOTH the steel mill that manufactures the steel AND the steel reinforcement processor and mesh supplier. Verification of the outputs of both these supply streams is essential for any steel reinforcing materials claiming to conform with the Standards.

ACRS Structural Steel Chain of Certification Casting Mill

Steel Maker

Strip Manufacture

Rolled Plate, Floorplate & Slab Manufacture (including Traceability)

Structural Steel Bar and Section (including Traceability)

Hollow Section Manufacture (including Traceability)

Ancillary Products - e.g. bolts (including Traceability)

Welded Section Manufacture (including Traceability)

Trader, Distributor, Stockist

Trader, Distributor, Stockist TRACEABILITY

Trader, Distributor, Stockist TRACEABILITY

Trader, Distributor, Stockist TRACEABILITY

TRACEABILITY

For structural steels, ACRS certifies the steel mill of manufacture, who must actively demonstrate traceability of their supply to the steel distributor. ACRS is working with Steelwork Certification Australia to develop “end to end” certification from mill to site that will provide confidence in fabricated structural steels from the purchase of verified steel from ACRS certified mills right through to delivery of the finished fabricated steel to the project site.

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

13

CASE STUDY

Heritage Reborn

Stramit products key in heritage cathedral roof remodelling Originally built in 1848, the imposing and majestic St. Stephen’s Cathedral is a standout feature of the Brisbane city skyline. Nestled amongst the tall office buildings of the thriving city, the grand Gothic revival building is an elegant nod to Australia’s historic architecture and tradition.

Maintaining the stunning cathedral is no easy feat with its classic sandstone masonry and delicate stained glass windows – it requires special attention. So when the roof of the Cathedral fell into disrepair, great care, high-quality materials and expert workmanship were needed to guarantee the safe removal and installation of a new roof.

St. Stephen’s is a heritage listed building and so must adhere to the Queensland Government’s Conservative Management Plan, a plan which works to ensure the heritage values of a structure are meticulously conserved and managed.

Turning to Stramit, one of Australia's premium manufacturers of roll-formed steel building products, as well as award-winning roof installation experts, Certified Roofing – the remodel brief was specific.

“Not only did the chosen roof material need to be of the highest quality to ensure many more years of withstanding the harsh Queensland weather,” says Mick Bentham, director of Certified Roofing. “It also needed to seamlessly blend in with the historic architecture of the building, rather than overtake it.”

With this in mind, Bentham opted for Stramit Speed Deck Ultra for the entire roof remodel.

“I have always been fond of the sleek look of Speed Deck Ultra, its strength of internal clips and backing by a quality name was important,” explains Bentham.

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

BEFORE

AFTER

Powering a Sustainable Future St. Stephen’s Cathedral circa 1890

Offering excellent durability, Stramit Speed Deck Ultra’s fastenings are protected beneath the decking and can outlast through-fixed roofing – making it perfect for commercial roofing applications. Bentham says the material choice was an easy one.

“Not only are the sheets light, Speed Deck Ultra also has a large water-carrying capacity and weather-tightness,” he says.

Bentham says the project was not without its challenges.

“It was not realised until the scaffolding went up that we tested the surface paint of the roof and found it contained bonded asbestos fibres,” he says.

Due to the presence of asbestos, the entire approach to the project had to be changed.

“With the building being located in the middle of the city and in a high traffic area, great attention was needed for the safe removal of the asbestos so we engaged 470 Group who specialise in asbestos removal” explains Bentham.

“We also had to make sure all Workplace Health and Safety regulations were carefully complied with throughout the removal.”

Also challenging was the discovery of 200mm x 30mm thick hardwood timber planks butted together that the old roof was fixed to.

“Once this was realised we installed new battens and brought the roof structure back up to standard,” says Bentham.

Another aspect of the remodel that proved challenging, was for the original roof ventilators to be re-produced.

“The Archdiocese Services wanted us to re-create the original roof ventilators which can be seen on an old black and white photo of the cathedral,” explains Bentham. “Removed from the roof somewhere between the 1900s and 1950s – there are absolutely no plans, drawings or information on the ventilators in any records – all we had as a reference was the black and white photo taken in the 1800s and nothing more.”

Thankfully, with the help of F & M Fabrications the ventilators were re-created and placed in the same positions as seen in the heritage photo.

Bentham describes the evolution of the cathedral roof as fascinating, “there’s little information on the roof’s past, but we know it was originally slate then replaced with galvanised metal sheets,” he says. “For the new roof we’ve used 0. 48mm BMT Colorbond® in Jasper®.”

The Archdiocese Services chose the colour Jasper® which was the closest match to the old roof colour and perfectly suited the traditional architecture of the building.

By the end of the installation, Bentham says the St. Stephen’s community loved the results, “indeed it is surprising for many that we were able to retain the traditional look of the cathedral, using advanced modern materials,” he says.

For more information on any of the products in the Stramit range, please visit: www.stramit.com.au

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

15

COMPANY PROFILE

TITAN’S ‘ONE STOP SHOP’ DELIVERS MAJOR BENEFITS FOR TRUCK AND CONSTRUCTION EQUIPMENT FLEET OWNERS With a company history tracing back to the establishment of the Electric Wheel Company in 1890 in the USA, Titan is the largest integrated provider and service specialist of tyres, wheels, tracks and axles in Australia.

In fact, Titan Australia is the only company in Australia to manufacture and supply both tyres, wheels and undercarriage for tracked equipment.

A far cry from its humble beginnings producing wheels for wagons and farm implements in Quincy, Illinois, the name Titan is now synonymous around the world with the manufacture and supply of high quality wheels, tyres and undercarriage for everything from 4WDs, recreational vehicles, buses and trucks through specialist mining equipment, agricultural equipment, and construction and earthmoving equipment of all sizes.

Needless to say, this ‘One Stop Shop’ approach is delivering significant benefits to construction equipment and fleet owners across Australia.

Adam Oakenful, Chief Operating Officer with Titan Australia, explained: “Whether it’s civil contracting or general construction sector, the majority of operators in the construction sector tend to have an extremely diverse fleet of vehicles and equipment.”

“From small trucks, 4WDs, and compact equipment, through to tippers, concrete trucks, low-loaders and large equipment

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

such as excavators, dozers, front end loaders and other construction equipment, the range of tyres, wheels, track and undercarriage components required to keep these fleets operational on the worksite can be extensive to say the least.”

“What’s more, something as basic as a damaged tire, wheel or track on one piece of equipment, can bring an entire worksite to a standstill – and even on a relatively small project, that equipment downtime can end up costing a fortune.”

“Needless to say, managing tyre, wheel and track repairs, replacements and other maintenance for such a diverse fleet can be an extremely onerous task and in many instances, it can result in having to deal with multiple suppliers for different components,” he said.

“By bringing everything together under one roof, we’re able to streamline the entire process for our clients,” Adam Oakenful added. “Whether it’s a wheel repair, new wheels, tyres, scheduled maintenance and repairs to undercarriage components, or replacement tracks, axles or other related parts, we’re able to provide our clients with a single point of contact and a fully-integrated, streamlined service for their entire fleet.”

Together with the obvious productivity benefits resulting from having one central supplier for all tyre, wheel and track needs, this unique ‘one stop shop’ capability

delivers a range of other benefits, including consistent quality control across all aspects of the manufacture / refurbishment / supply process.

“All of our tyres, wheels and tracks are manufactured by Titan, either locally or globally. And that means we have our own strict quality control over the entire supply chain from start to finish,” Adam Oakenful said.

“What’s more, as a global leader and one of the world’s largest manufacturers of specialist tyres and wheels, Titan’s expertise and ‘knowledge base’ is truly second-tonone. This enables us to work proactively with our customers to develop maintenance and supply solutions that not only streamline operations and boost productivity, but also help to reduce operating costs and minimise equipment downtime,” he added.

This focus on working with customers to help minimise downtime and operating costs is clearly evidenced by Titan’s refurbishment works. Forming a significant part of the company’s business, Titan provides a full refurbishment, repair and rebuild service for all manner of wheels and tracks. In many cases, refurbishing wheels and tracks can extend the life-cycle of these parts by up to 30%, and can be carried out for significantly less than the cost of new replacement parts - providing significant savings for customers, without any compromise in quality or performance when compared to a new replacement part.

For further information on Titan’s full range of products and services, please call: 1300 791 672 or visit: www.titanaustralia.com

INNOVATIVE SOLUTIONS

High Speed Conveyor machinery used in a new and innovative way The Hills Rockslinger machinery is gaining traction in the construction world as a quick and powerful way to install landscape product. The high-speed conveyor arm has the ability to spread material up to 30 metres away from where the truck is parked, and at an impressive rate of one tonne per minute.

Material handling conveyors have been around since 1795, mainly to move large amounts of grain over small distances. Automated conveyors were widely used from 1919 in factories and mines. The jump from slow factory conveyors, to high-speed material handling was made in Eugene, Oregon much more recently. Truck mounted equipment has enabled the amazing system to move to and from site without cumbersome set up and dismantling.

“We originally introduced our Rockslinger machinery here in Australia as a method of reloading our EB blower trucks on job sites all over Sydney, but soon realised these versatile, highspeed conveyor machines had a lot more to offer both us and the construction industry,” said General Manager Chris Nattrass.

“Not only have they added invaluable efficiency to our Blower Truck business, but we are now regularly using these machines for the supply and installation of bulk landscape materials, such as backfilling pipelines & trenches, stockpiling in awkward areas not accessible by normal tipper trucks, as well as applying the intricate layers of material into bio retention basins.”

The Hills Rockslinger advantage is that it offers customers a supply and installation service, including full supply of the desired material, the method of installation, and a professional and thorough experience all round.

The Rockslinger makes short work of all types of trench filling and backfilling work

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

There is also the option to hire the Rockslinger machinery, along with a trained operator, to install a range of products from Sands, Soils, Roadbase and grades of aggregate up to 75mm in diameter.

Joel Marsh is dedicated to identifying suitable sites for the Rockslinger trucks, thereby ensuring the company’s customers receive the best possible service. His goal is to allow all projects to run as smoothly and efficiently as possible, and the material application itself to fulfil the customer’s requirements.

“We can install pretty much anything from 75mm Ballast through to fine grade sands, as well as Road base and various fill material,” Joel said.

“I just love seeing the look on the customers face when they don’t have to get the material in via wheelbarrows, small diggers, or buckets,” he added.

The Rockslinger process works by loading the truck mounted body with the required material. The materials then move along the internal walking floor to the rear of the bin.

From there the material is fed onto machine’s high-speed conveyor arm and ‘slung’ to where it needs to go. The conveyor arm reaches out as far as six metres allowing it to reach over walls, fences and across barriers or ditches before placing, or throwing the material depending on the site’s requirements. The conveyor arm has the ability to manoeuvre through 260 degrees horizontally around the rear of the truck and can incline to a height of approximately 4.3 metres - making it one extremely versatile piece of equipment.

The Rockslinger is also ideal for jobs such as spreading sand in playground areas

The Rockslinger in action during a recent Bio Retention Basin installation

Mobile Media Blasting - Wet & Dry

• Specialising in Concrete preparation for Carbon Fibre application • Abrasive & Non Abrasive Blasting • Paint, rust & contaminant removal from many substrates • Line marking removal • Compact machinery for easy access • Low media usage which means less environmental issues with containment and dust • Suitable for confined space blasting

Recent Carbon Fibre preparation projects • The Glen Shopping Centre Mt Waverley • 161 Collins Street Melbourne

For more information on The Hills Rockslinger Machine, call: 0400 992 662, email: sales@rockslinger.com.au or visit www.rockslinger.com.au

1300 240 337 www.enviroblast.net.au Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

19

PRODUCT FOCUS

Tsurumi’s new NK series 240 volt single phase submersible pump is tough enough for batch plants.

NEW SUMP PUMP FOR ABRASIVE APPLICATIONS A new heavy duty single phase submersible sump pump has been released by Australian Pump.

Manufactured by Tsurumi, the world’s biggest manufacturer of electro submersible pumps, the high head single phase pump is ideal for batch plant, construction sites or anywhere liquids or even light slurries are to be handled.

Called the Tsurumi NK3-22, the 3” port pump can handle flows of up to 525 lpm. This heavy-duty pump is lightweight enough to be moved around batch plants in an emergency to wherever there is a pump breakdown or extra capacity is required. The high head performance means that heads of up to 24 metres can be handled with ease. Its slimline design also allows it to fit into narrow locations, making it super versatile.

The pump’s solids handling capability is based on a semi vortex impeller design fitted with a synthetic rubber ware plate.

“The vulcanised wear plate resists abrasion and provides long life and consistent pump performance,” said Aussie Pumps’ Chief Engineer, John Hales.

The pump features a double mechanical seal of silicone carbide located in an oil chamber. That oil chamber features a patented ‘oil lifter’ that provides forced lubrication into the mechanical seal. The Tsurumi design helps extend seal life substantially.

Hales claims that the semi vortex impeller even allows the passage of large stringy solids. The impeller’s unique design also accelerates the water passing through the pump casing, creating a vortex that assists the smooth transit of solids in suspension.

Water incursion through the cable entry is the main source of failure in submersible pumps. The Tsurumi NK pump is fitted with an anti-wicking cable entry block.

This feature protects the motor from moisture wicking inside the cable in the event of the cable being damaged onsite or the end being submerged.

Like all Tsurumi pumps offered by Australian Pump Industries, this pump comes with a unique 3-year warranty. Australian Pump expect it to be a big success.

“Every batch plant, every construction site, for that matter every hire company servicing the heavy industries should be equipped with these super versatile but relatively light weight pumps,” said Hales Although the pump is built like a tank, it comes in with a weight of only 29 kilos. The maximum solids handling is 6mm spherical solids. The pumps are designed by Tsurumi to have a maximum water depth of 50 metres.

That’s a unique feature found only in Tsurumi top quality pumps.

Further information on Australian Pump’s Tsurumi range is available from authorised Aussie Pump distributors nationwide, or at: www.aussiepumps.com.au

KENNARDS HIRE MAKING WORKSITES SAFER FOR PEDESTRIANS Kennards Hire continues to lead the improvement of traffic management industry standards with the announcement of patented Flexi-edge system Pedestrian Trench Covers to its extensive traffic product range.

The new product is designed to reduce trip hazards and unwanted product movement, enabling customers across a broad range of industries to implement safe, efficient workplaces and traffic zones.

Thanks to increased loading and innovative design, Pedestrian Trench Covers are incredibly stable without bolting, helping to reduce installation time and the costs of reinstatement. While installation isn’t required in most cases, Pedestrian Trench Covers can be fixed in place if site conditions are poor.

A patented Flexi-edge system helps minimise unwanted movement, greatly reducing trip hazards for pedestrians. With the central section of the Pedestrian Trench Covers crafted from glass reinforced composite, they’re built to handle it all – they can cover a 900mm trench for vehicles up to 3.5 tonnes and 1200mm for weights up to 400kg.

While heavier than traditional trench covers due to the PVC anti slip edge and higher load rating, the Pedestrian Trench Covers are much lighter than steel plates, making them easier to manoeuvre and transport for driveway applications.

Troy Clauss, Manager of Traffic Products at Kennards Hire, said the company continually strives to expand its collection of traffic management products, and giving customers increased access to safe and innovative products is something we greatly value.

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

“The Pedestrian Trench Covers have helped to improve the efficiency of traffic management, making roadwork zones and construction sites significantly safer for both workers, pedestrians, and motorists.”

“When hiring through the Kennards Hire network, customers will have complete access to our traffic control and management service.

Our highly trained and experienced traffic control professionals also help deliver and set up equipment according to the necessary safety regulations,” Troy added.

The Pedestrian Trench Covers are available to hire from selected Kennards Hire branches across Australia and New Zealand. Contact your local specialist branch for further information or visit: kennards.com.au or kennardshire.co.nz

COMPANY PROFILE

GOOD VIBRATIONS… FOR CONCRETE CONSOLIDATION As anyone involved in concrete will tell you, good quality finished concrete, needs to be well consolidated… and in the majority cases, the best way to achieve that, is by using purpose-built specialist vibration equipment.

Whether it’s precast or poured in situ, most concrete requires vibration to consolidate and eliminate voids, especially around reinforcing steel. Indeed, the more complex the shape or intricate the reinforcing, the more critical proper concrete vibration is.

Part of the global WAMGROUP, OLI Vibrators Australia is a leading supplier of specialist vibrators for concrete construction across Australia.

The worldwide leader in vibration technology, the name OLI® has been synonymous with expertise in vibration technology for over 55 years. Founded in Cassina de’ Pecchi near Milan, Italy in 1961, the company built its reputation supplying immersion vibrators (pokers) to construction contractors across Italy. Needless to say, the products’ outstanding quality and performance in the field saw a strong growth in demand, and before long OLI had become the premier supplier of high frequency electric, pneumatic and shaft vibrators across Italy, Europe and eventually, around the globe.

“For OLI, it’s always been about quality,” said OLI Australia General Manager, Mark Thompson. “Manufacturing high quality products, and delivering high quality solutions to meet the customer’s specific needs.”

“Product performance and reliability – whether out on site or in the factory – is of paramount importance, especially when in comes to concrete. There’s a limited timeframe to work in, and our customers need to know that the equipment will be working as it should, when they need it,” he said.

From electric high-frequency vibrators (both with and without in-built frequency converters), through to pneumatic and electric vibrators for use with concrete moulds and formwork, OLI has a concrete vibration solution to meet every need.

OLI also manufactures a range of specialist vibrators and flow aid equipment for use in concrete batching plants.

The OLI VH range of electric high frequency internal vibrators combine consistent speed and performance, with remarkable resistance to abrasion – ensuring that they keep performing in even the harshest concrete environments. The units are supplied with a 5m protection hose, a 10m electric cable with plug and ABS hand switch. The VH range is ideally paired with OLI’s CM range of frequency and voltage converters, which are equipped with permanent magnets that have been specifically designed to power high frequency concrete vibrators continuously.

The OLI EWO range of high frequency internal vibrators are equipped with their own compact electronic frequency converter, applied directly into the supply cable, making them suitable for connection to a single-phase mains power socket.

OLI also manufactures and extensive range of electric and pneumatic vibrators for use with concrete formwork and moulds.

Paired with OLI’s range of purpose-designed fastening systems and brackets, these electronic and pneumatic units can be used on both wooden and steel formwork and moulds.

For further information, please visit: www.olivibrators.com.au

Pictured (clockwise from top): OLI VH electric high frequency internal vibrators combine consistent speed and performance with outstanding resistance to abrasion; OLI CM frequency and voltage converters are specifically designed to power high frequency concrete vibrators continuously; OLI fastening systems enable quick mounting of vibrators on steel or wooden formwork and moulds; OLI manufactures a wide range of pneumatic and electric vibrators for precast concrete applications; OLI EWO high frequency internal vibrators feature a built-in converter.

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

Customised Concrete Handling Solutions For nearly 20 years, Combilift has been leading the way in the design, manufacture and supply of purpose-built specialist handling equipment for companies around the globe.

• • • • •

Safe and easy-to-operate Robust construction Heavy-duty performance Indoor & Outdoor Solutions Solutions for long and out-of-spec products

From high capacity forklifts, through to customised mobile gantry and straddle carrier lifting solutions, Combilift can provide you with the ideal lifting solution to meet your needs.

Quality lifting and material handling solutions that can help you to maximise productivity and optimise space utilisation at your factory or yard.

www.combilift.com T: 1300 552 422 E: chris.littlewood@combilift.com

Combilift’s new 46,500m² global headquarters and manufacturing facility in Monaghan, Ireland is one of the largest manufacturing operations under one single roof in the Republic of Ireland.

SPECIAL FEATURE

Combilift opens new €50 million global headquarters and manufacturing facility Forklift manufacturer and material handling solutions provider Combilift has officially opened its new global headquarters and manufacturing facility in Monaghan, Ireland.

Celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, the company also announced that it will be significantly expanding its workforce with the creation of 200 new jobs in the next three years.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, the Irish Prime Minister An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar TD said: “Combilift is an incredible home-grown Monaghan success story.

When the company was founded 20 years ago, it had three employees, a brilliant concept, and the ambition to make it a reality. Combilift is playing a significant role in Monaghan’s success, and I would like to congratulate Robert Moffett and Martin McVicar and everyone at Combilift on their achievements to date and wish them every success for the future.”

Built at a cost of €50 million, the investment in the new 46,500m2 facility will allow Combilift to realise its ambitious growth plans.

Speaking at the official launch, Combilift Managing Director Martin McVicar, said: “We have employed an additional 230 people since we announced our plans for this factory in 2015 and the combination of this state-of-the-art production plant and the growing skilled workforce will allow us to double production within the next 5 years.”

Combilift currently exports 98% of its products to 85 countries including Australia, through its 250-strong international dealer network. The current workforce stands 24

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

at 550 people and the new employment opportunities will be for skilled technicians, design engineers, logistics and supply chain specialists and those with mechanical and electrical mechatronics skills.

Mass Customisation Martin McVicar attributes the company’s impressive growth and its status as an acknowledged world leader in the material handling sector to mass customisation.

“Combilift has set the benchmark for the mass production of customised innovative products. Mass customisation is the new frontier for both the customer and the manufacturer as customers are increasingly expecting products to be tailored to

their requirements. We listen to and take feedback on board from our customers and dealers to identify solutions that best match their individual specific needs.”

This focus on mass customisation is clearly evidenced in the company’s range of specialist concrete handling solutions, including high capacity forklifts, customised mobile gantry units and straddle carrier lifting solutions.

Combilift invests 7% of its annual turnover in Research and Development to enhance its customisation capability and to maximise ROI for its customers.

“The flexibility in our new facility means that we can continue to accommodate any request for a customised material handling

Four 90-metre moving assembly lines produce a finished truck every 15 minutes, with more than 50 truckloads of finished products dispatched from the factory each week.

Available in capacities from 2,500 kg - 25,000 kg, the Combilift C-Series multi-directional forklift is ideal for use with long loads such as precast concrete beams, pipes and hollowcore sections.

solution. We also see ourselves as much more than a forklift manufacturer and are transforming the transport and logistics sector with our innovative, space-spacing products and our services,” Mr McVicar said.

Combilift also offers a free logistic and warehouse design service which enables customers to see the benefit that its products will bring to their business.

“Our engineers proactively design, plan and produce material flow analysis and 3D animations - 150 to 200 per day for our worldwide customers - which clearly illustrate the capacity potential as well as the optimum flow of materials on their site,” he added.

Growth of Combilift Established by Martin McVicar, Managing Director and Robert in Moffett, Technical Director, in 1998, Combilift is a privately held and fully capitalised company. It developed the world’s first multidirectional all-wheel drive IC engine powered forklift in 1998.

In the first year of operation it produced 18 units,17 of which were exported. The company has more than doubled in the last 5 years and now has 40,000 units in operation in over 85 countries.

Combilift’s product portfolio has expanded way beyond its first multidirectional model.

“Combilift has always focused on a number of niche market segments and has a proven track record of launching one or two new products annually,” Mr McVicar said.

“In the first 10 years we focussed on the long load material handling sector with the multidirectional range which revolutionised the handling of long materials, allowing customers to handle long products in less space more safely.”

Between 2008 and 2018 Combilift diversified its product range by developing a number of innovative space saving warehouse and heavy load handling products; the Aisle Master articulated truck and the Straddle Carrier (Combi-SC) respectively.

Pedestrian products were introduced into the range in the last five years, enabling Combilift to gain a foothold in this growing market. The Combi-WR, Combi-WR4 and the Combi-CS all incorporate Combilift’s unique patented multi-positional tiller arm technology.

“There is a growing demand for pedestrian trucks, driven by safety concerns where customers and/or employees are in the vicinity of operating forklifts,” said Mr McVicar. “It is our intention to significantly expand this range, as can be seen with the launch of the new high lift capacity Combilift Powered Pallet Truck (Combi-HC-PPT).”

Manufacturing with a focus on sustainability

The Combi-SC, Straddle Carrier range provides a safe, reliable and economical handling solution for heavy and oversized loads from 35,000 kg to +100,000 kg, including precast concrete wall sections, beams, pits, pipes and tanks.

The massive new 46,500m2 purpose-built factory is set on a 100-acre site with room for future expansion when required. With 11 acres of roof space, it is one of the largest manufacturing operations under one single roof in the Republic of Ireland.

Incorporating the latest manufacturing processes with a focus on sustainability, the new factory will enable Combilift to double its output in a single shift across all production lines.

The Combi-SC Straddle Carrier’s manoeuvrability, light footprint and high customisation offer complete independence when moving heavy oversized loads.

Four 90-metre moving assembly lines produce a finished truck every 15 minutes.

There are 60 welding bays, two plasma cutting machines, three paint lines which use sustainable water-based paints and three automatic shot blasters to cater for different sized products. 12,000 pallet locations ensure ample storage space for parts and components. The facility also includes a 50-seat cinema training room, 5,000 m² of office space and a dedicated R&D Development and Testing Centre.

23% of roof space is covered in skylights, enabling staff to work in natural daylight without the assistance of artificial lighting.

Other lighting is provided through 1,100 LED lights with individual PIR sensors which adjust each light’s output in accordance with the available natural light, thereby maintaining a consistent level of light across the factory. Solar panels supply 185 kW of energy, while a 1 MW Biomass plant fuelled by recycled wood (waste pallets, etc.) – is used to heat the spraying booths and assembly area. The site includes tank storage for 110,000 litres of rain water, which is harvested for jet washing and bathroom facilities.

More than 50 truckloads of finished products are dispatched from the factory each week, and spare parts are shipped across the world to the dealer network.

Certified to international quality and safety management standards, the new headquarters and manufacturing facility has been awarded ISO 9001 international Quality Management System, ISO 14001 Environment Management and OHSAS 18001 Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series.

For further information, please visit: www.combilift.com

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

25

CEMENT + CONCRETE

REDUCING CEMENT PRE-HYDRATION COULD IMPROVE QUALITY GCP Applied Technologies Inc. presented a research paper on improving the quality of cement from vertical roller mills by reducing pre-hydration during the recent 25th ASEAN Federation of Cement Manufacturers Technical Symposium & Exhibition in Indonesia. The company also showcased two new cement additive ranges—the TAVERO™ VM grinding aids and OPTEVA™ HE quality improvers.

Compared with ball mills for cement production, vertical roller mills require a smaller plant footprint and offer greater energy efficiency and narrower cement particle size distribution. Cement produced in vertical roller mills, however, sometimes exhibits lower strengths and longer initial setting times as compared to ball-milled cements made with the same raw materials.

“As more and more cement companies introduce vertical roller mills in their production, it was important for us to deliver solutions that can help optimize cement production and quality,” said Robert AuYeung, Asia Pacific director of marketing, GCP Applied Technologies.

“Our research found that using suitable grinding aids and reducing water spray could limit cement pre-hydration and improve cement compressive strength from 1.5 to 3 MPa at all ages tested. Similarly, initial setting time was also shown to have a modest reduction of 15 minutes.”

To that end, GCP has introduced two new additives that deliver a range of benefits during cement production in vertical roller mills: • TAVERO™ VM grinding aid additives, which help stabilize vertical roller mills during production by reducing water injection requirements and cement pre-hydration.

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

At the same time, they improve cement performance by delivering higher strengths and shorter setting times.

• OPTEVA™ HE quality improvers are cement additives that provide options for gaining higher early (HE) strength and are particularly effective for challenging cements.

“TAVERO™ VM additives enable more stable VRM production with less usage of water and potential fuel savings with reduced need to heat the mill. It also enables better cement quality with lower energy consumption and less wear on equipment,” AuYeung said.

“OPTEVA™ HE additives enable greater use of supplementary cementitious materials in place of clinker and increasing use of alternative fuels. This reduces greenhouse gas emissions and also lowers the costs of cement production.”

GCP has more than 80 years of experience producing high-quality grinding aids and performance enhancers. The company’s grinding aids have helped producers improve cement productivity by up to 20% without additional production costs. Similarly, GCP’s quality improvers have helped improve mill production by up to 20%; early- and longterm compressive strength by up to 30%; and helped lower energy consumption by about 25%, all without any loss of cement quality.

“Our cement additives and water-reducing concrete admixtures reduce air pollution equivalent to more than 10 million cars annually,” AuYeung said. “Through the use of GCP’s cement additives globally, about 3,000 megawatt hours of electricity are saved daily that’s equal to the daily energy consumption of half a million families.”

The company will continue to expand its comprehensive portfolio of additives for cement production under the OPTEVA™ and the TAVERO™ brand with new products rolling out in the future.

“We continue to reinforce our position as a global leader in cement additives by providing innovative solutions to our customers,” said Naren Srinivasan, chief strategy, marketing and development officer. “GCP Applied Technologies offers cement producers a complete portfolio of products and services, enabling them to lead in cement quality, cost efficiency and sustainability.”

ABOUT GCP APPLIED TECHNOLOGIES GCP Applied Technologies is a leading global provider of construction products technologies that include additives for cement and concrete, the VERIFI® in-transit concrete management system, high-performance waterproofing products, and specialty systems. GCP products have been used to build some of the world’s most renowned structures.

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CONCRETE INSTITUTE

THE PERFORMANCE OF CONCRETE SYMPOSIUM

of

AUSTRALIA

OVERVIEW

WHAT THE EXPERTS SAY

Concrete is the most widely used building material in the world. Despite the many changes in the construction industry globally, concrete continues to be the benchmark material for long lasting, durable structures. As such concrete continues to be researched and developed.

“While advances have been made in admixtures, binder and aggregate production, testing, and repair materials, the root cause behind many of our concrete problems is neglect of the basics. All areas of the concrete industry need to have an understanding of concrete the material and how it works. Designers must know whether their designs can be built. Constructors must understand the impacts of placing, compaction and curing of concrete to achieve the specified performance requirements. You only get one chance to ‘get it right’, with concrete, so asking the right questions at the right time is essential to getting the right outcome”.

Michael van Koeverden, Principal, CQT Services

While new materials show promise in the construction industry they are often made from natural resources that are simply not found in quantities abundant enough to compete with, or even replace, concrete. It is for this reason that advances in concrete, and the materials that are used in it, are always being further developed, along with enhancements to generate special properties, or to achieve superior characteristics that may provide long-term durability, sustainability, and performance.

However, it is vital that all stakeholders in the concrete industry have a basic understanding of the concepts involved to ensure that the performance of the material is not compromised. This applies to anyone in structural and civil design, project management, concrete construction, and concrete technology.

This event is Part 1 of a series on the Performance of Concrete. It will provide an update on the changes in Australia with respect to materials and conditions that impact the performance of concrete, and how these impact concrete specification, construction, and ultimately performance in this country.

“Raw materials are the life-blood of the concrete manufacturing process. The quality and consistency of concrete constituents ultimately affect the finished product, and as such, great care should be given to the assessment of these materials. A sound understanding of their limitations and impact on the final product needs to be understood. Presentations by experts in these fields are vital for the industry to enhance its skills with regards to local concrete materials.”

Andre van Zyl, Technical Services Manager, Concrete Institute of Australia

WHO SHOULD ATTEND? This event will be of great importance to professionals in the fields of: • • •

Structural engineering, design and specification Concrete construction Road, rail and water authorities

It is also a great opportunity for young graduates and professionals to learn more about what goes in to our most widely used construction material, and what it does!

WWW.CONCRETEINSTITUTE.COM/CONCRETEPERFORMANCE

CONCRETE INSTITUTE of

AUSTRALIA

PART 1 MATERIALS AND SPECIFICATIONS

WHAT TO EXPECT This event will look at a wide range of concrete materials, updates in standards and use, and the impact that they have on the performance of concrete.

Our presenters will include industry experts in materials and performance, as well as local specifiers with local knowledge in specification challenges.

SPONSORED BY

MATERIALS

PERFORMANCE

• • • • • • • •

• • • • • • • • •

Cement Aggregates Admixtures Fly ash Silica fume Slag Water Recycled and new materials

Q&A How much do you know about ASR?

SUPPORTED BY

Testing Durability Strength Structural capacity Sustainability ASR Acid sulphates Carbonation Chloride attack

WHEN AND WHERE? This event is coming to the following locations throughout July

Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is when aggregates containing silica react with alkali hydroxide in cement to form a gel that swells with water from the surrounding cement paste or the environment. This can then cause enough pressure that the concrete becomes damaged. ASR is typically indicated by random map cracking and, in advanced cases, closed joints and attendant spalled concrete.

Why is it important for designers and specifiers to know about ASR? There are materials used in concrete that can help reduce the risk of ASR occurring; certain structure types, requirements and areas that can increase the risk of ASR, and new testing methodology available to predict the level of risk!

FOR DETAILS, FOLLOW THE INSTITUTE ON

BRISBANE TUESDAY 17 JULY MELBOURNE THURSDAY 19 JULY HOBART FRIDAY 20 JULY NEWCASTLE MONDAY 23 JULY SYDNEY TUESDAY 24 JULY CANBERRA MONDAY 30 JULY

CONCRETE INSTITUTE NEWS

The Concrete Institute of Australia is privileged to be hosting this most prestigious event, and accordingly invite members of the fib and CIA, as well as all concrete construction industry colleagues, to join us in Melbourne for what we hope will be the biggest concrete event ever on our soil. For more details read on, or please visit: www.fibcongress2018.com

Key Note Speakers The fib Congress 2018 has some outstanding key note speakers, who will each exemplify how concrete is being designed, specified, supplied and constructed “Better - Smarter - Stronger” all around the world. These include: Dr Andy Davids, Design Director - Tall Buildings for Aurecon, Australia (Monday 8th October, 9.45am) Key Note Title: “The Art and Science of Designing and Building the Tallest Buildings in the World”

The Biggest Concrete Event Ever!

The biggest concrete conference to ever be held in Australia is only a few months away. The International Federation of Structural Concrete (fib) will hold its 5th International fib Congress in Melbourne from the 7th to 11th October 2018, and you’re invited!

The Congress, to be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, will feature a 4-day technical program with over 400 papers and presentations, covering over 25 general concrete topics that will focus on standards and codes, current practice, and developing trends and research in design, construction and materials. Together with an impressive list of local and international sponsors and exhibitors, a social program that includes a Gala Dinner to honour international concrete structures of excellence, and an opportunity to connect with the biggest congregation of concrete experts from around the world this country has ever seen, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to be amongst the best of the concrete industry.

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

Prof. Frank Dehn, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany (Tuesday 9th October, 9.00am).

Key Note Title: “New Insights Into the Durability Properties of Geopolymer Concretes” Prof. Koichi Maekawa, Emeritus Professor, The University of Tokyo, Japan (Tuesday 9th October 9.45am), Key Note Title: “Hygro-Mechanics Based Design and Performance Assessment of Structural Concrete” Professor Campbell Middleton, Laing O’Rourke Professor of Construction Engineering, Cambridge University, UK (Wednesday 10th October 9.00am).

Key Note Title: “In Quest of the Holy Grails of Construction” Professor Michael Thomas, Professor and Department Chair, Department of Civil Engineering, University of New Brunswick, Canada (Wednesday 10th October 9.45am) Key Note Title: “Alkali-Silica Reaction: 80 Years On”

CONCRETE INSTITUTE NEWS

Technical Program – Better-Smarter-Stronger In line with the Congress theme, “Better – Smarter – Stronger”, it is going to be a quality program. The 4-day technical program will include 6 parallel streams throughout the congress, containing over 400 presentations. At the time of writing the program was being finalised but here is a snap shot of the themes you will find: • Bridge Structures • Ultra-High Performance Concrete • Fibre Reinforced Concrete • Large Challenging Projects • Composite and Hybrid Structures • Shear and Torsion • Fire • Underground and Foundations • Shrinkage and Creep • Seismic • Reinforcement and Prestress • Prefabricated and Precast • Resilience and Robustness • Existing Structures • Concrete Materials • AAC and Geopolymers • New Materials • Model Codes and Standards • Architectural Concrete • Modelling and Design • Design and Construction • Sustainability • Concrete Deterioration Methods • Models for Durability • Monitoring and Condition Assessment • Reinforcement Corrosion • Repair and Rehabilitation • Structural Strengthening For an up to date Technical Program, please visit the website: www.fibcongress2018.com/program but here are some highlights to keep an eye out for: • Following the release of AS3600 and its new inclusion on SFRC, there will be a paper presented on the design of SFRC to fib Model Code 2010.

• Further to this, work on fib Model Code 2020 for Concrete Structures will be looked at and it will be interesting to see how it compares to AS3600.

• Concrete bridge structures will figure prominently on the program, including a number of papers on the behaviour of prestressed concrete bridge beams and decks, particularly from Europe.

• Several papers on prefabricated concrete elements, including local Victorians, Peter Healy from Hollowcore who will present on the Bendigo Hospital, and Shan Kumar who will look at prefabricated modular concrete for the La Trobe Tower.

• A number of durability sessions following on from Concrete 2017 including concrete deterioration mechanisms, condition assessment, modelling and design, and reinforcement corrosion.

• Several papers on design and construction that will cover global infrastructure experiences with bridges, roads, highways, tall buildings, drainage, wind turbines, cooling towers, viaducts and railways.

There will also be two special sessions on sustainability and seismic activity. The Sustainability session will be chaired by Professor Koji Sakai, Founder of the Japan Sustainability Institute, who will lead a distinguished group in on sustainability issues and research in concrete. The Seismic session will be led by Professor Alessandro Palermo, University of Canterbury, New Zealand, who will focus on the learnings from the Kaikoura and Christchurch earthquakes, as well as chairing sessions that look at European, Asian, and South American learnings in this area.

Pictured above (from top): The Bendigo Hospital in Victoria; Concrete wind turbine tower precast factory in Brazil; The Mersey Gateway Bridge in the UK.

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

31

CONCRETE INSTITUTE NEWS

Who Should Come The Congress is expected to bring over 700 concrete industry members from all over Australia and around the world. It will offer you the opportunity to present your work if you have submitted a paper, meet key industry leaders in specific areas of interest, and create invaluable connections with local and global colleagues and peers.

With over 400 papers expected to be presented, along with numerous special sessions, invited speakers, and key note presenters, representing more than 60 countries, the diversity of the conference delegation will be incredible.

So, who should come?

Designers and Specifiers The congress offers civil and structural engineering designers and specifiers, as well as materials consultants, unprecedented access to a world of concrete experts. Some of the benefits of attending the congress may include: • Getting an insight into the mind of the world’s leading designer in tall structures in Dr Andy Davids, as well as the chance to meet with him.

• Learning about challenging international projects that will be showcased such as design and construction of bridge viaducts, cable stayed bridges, wind towers, and many others.

• Discovering the impact European Codes and the fib Model Code have on AS3600, AS5100, and local design and their application for shear, torsion, fire, seismic, and durability.

• Access to researchers and practitioners who are at the cutting edge of innovation in areas such as 3D printing, ultra-high performance concrete, SFRC, and much more.

• Meeting other designers and specifiers from over 60 countries and sharing experiences and issues of mutual interest.

Researchers & Academics Australian researchers and academics are world leaders when it comes to concrete. However, there is still so much learn from all over the globe and the Congress gives our local experts, along with the next breed, a chance to connect and share information with their peers.

• Meet our key note speakers who will present their latest research in areas such as tall tower design, alkali-silica reaction, geopolymer concrete, non-destructive testing, and hygromechanics design of concrete.

• Discover what impact European Codes and the fib Model Code could have on local design and application for shear, torsion, fire, seismic, durability, and what work needs to be done here in these areas.

• Access researchers and practitioners who are at the cutting edge of innovation in areas such as 3D printing, ultra-high performance concrete, SFRC, and much more.

• Connect with researchers and academics from numerous institutions from over 60 different countries, as well as consultants and practitioners from all over the world.

Material Suppliers The concrete industry doesn’t survive without material suppliers.

Without those who supply the materials that make concrete, 32

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

Pictured above (from top): The Northern Marmara Motorway in Turkey, a highlight of the Bridge sessions; Ultra-high performance FRC; World’s first 3D printed office, Dubai..

construct concrete, test concrete, maintain concrete, and repair concrete, there is no concrete. The Congress will provide suppliers a global audience that will allow them to: • Access key contacts from road authorities, consultancies, and research in Australia and to discover their key interests that may evolve from overseas trends.

• Discover the impact European Codes and the fib Model Code are having on local design and application and how this applies to material selection and specification.

• Find out about the design, construction, repair and strengthening of challenging international projects and what materials have been utilized in these areas.

• Meet international researchers and practitioners who are at the cutting edge of innovation in areas such as 3D printing, ultrahigh performance concrete, SFRC, and much more.

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CONCRETE INSTITUTE NEWS

The Egg Graben Bridge, Austria The Terenez Bridge, France

The Bella Sky Hotel, Denmark

The National Portrait Gallery, Canberra

Q&A Who is fib?

The International Federation for Structural Concrete (also known in French as Fédération internationale du béton - fib) is formed by 45 National Member Groups around the world, along with over 1,000 individual and corporate members.

The objectives of the fib are to develop at an international level the study of scientific and practical matters capable of advancing the technical, economic, aesthetic and environmental performance of concrete construction.

Why is the Concrete Institute of Australia hosting the Congress?

CIA is the Australian National Member Group for fib and as such represents them in this country. This allows the Institute to bring much of the work being done by fib to the Members of the Concrete Institute, and to provide worldwide codes of practices to our shores that can be considered and compared for local needs.

Do I need to be a member of fib?

No! Whilst fib and CIA members do receive member rates, the Congress is open to everyone and anyone with an interest in concrete. To see the registration rates please visit: www.fibcongress2018.com/registration

fib Awards for Outstanding Concrete Structures announced The Congress will see the winners of the 2018 fib Awards for Outstanding Concrete Structures announced at the Gala Dinner to be held at the Rod Laver Tennis Arena in Melbourne. These awards are only presented every 4 years at fib Congresses and provide international recognition to structures that demonstrate the versatility of concrete as a structural medium. The award includes a plaque that will be placed on the winning project to recognise its position as an outstanding concrete structure.

There have been some outstanding concrete structures that have won this prestigious award, which is presented in two categories – civil engineering and buildings. The 2014 Awards for Outstanding Structures, presented at the last fib Congress in Mumbai, included: • Civil Engineering:o the Egg Graben Bridge in Austria; and o the Terenez Bridge in France.

• Buildings:o the Bella Sky Hotel in Denmark; o the Centro Ovale in Switzerland; and o the Park City Musashi Kosugi in Japan.

Australia has also figured on the winners list in previous years, with the National Portrait Gallery in Canberra taking out an award in the Buildings category in 2010, and the UNSW Scientia Building in the same category in 2002.

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

Are there special rates for students and recent graduates?

Yes! Registration is discounted significantly for students and young professionals.

Can I earn CPD hours?

Yes, as a conference related to the civil and/or structural engineering discipline the Congress will allow you to rack up CPD hours. As a 4-day congress covering over 400 technical papers both civil and structural engineering disciplines will be covered in depth.

Can I sponsor and exhibit at the Congress?

The Congress will present a great opportunity for anyone actively involved in the building and construction industry to present their products and services. There are many attractive sponsorship and advertising opportunities available to increase the visibility of any company’s brand to their key target markets ranging from small to high level packages.

Further information on these opportunities can be found at: www.fibcongress2018.com/sponsorship-exhibition

How long is registration open for?

Registration is open NOW and will be available open right up to the day of the conference.

CONCRETE INSTITUTE NEWS

Look at our sponsors!

The Congress is attracting interest from all over the world, and we’re pleased to announce that Dywidag Systems International (DSI) and the Australasian Certification Authority for Reinforcing and Structural Steels (ACRS) are on board as Gold Sponsors, with Ancon and Freyssinet taking up Silver sponsorship.

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

With a comprehensive exhibition of local and overseas companies it will be a great opportunity for delegates to connect.

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www.mi-mep.com.au Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

35

CONCRETE INSTITUTE NEWS

The Performance of Concrete How much do you know about concrete materials and the impact they have on the performance of the finished product?

On the other side, how much do you know about what impact the choice of materials has on concrete depending on where it is placed?

The Concrete Institute of Australia is pleased to be hosting a Symposium at a number of venues around Australia, and here are some questions that you may find the answers to, along with much more, at the event.

How much do you know about other cement types?

General purpose cement (Type GP) is the main type of cement used in the majority of concrete construction work in Australia.

However, there are a number of other cement types available, as outlined AS3972 General Purpose and Blended Cements.

These cement types include – sulfate resistant cement (Type SR), shrinkage limited cement (Type SL), low heat cement (Type LH), high early strength cement (Type HE), and general blended cements (Type GB).

Why is it important for designer and specifiers to know about all the various cement types?

Blended cements are manufactured for specific purposes, designed to provide particular properties of the hardened concrete that will assist with its performance for its specified environment and designed use.

How much do you know about alkali-silica reaction?

Alkali-silica reaction (ASR) is when aggregates containing silica react with alkali hydroxide in concrete to form a gel that swells with water from the surrounding cement paste or the environment.

This can then cause enough pressure that the concrete becomes damaged. ASR is typically indicated by random map cracking and, in advanced cases, closed joints and attendant spalled concrete.

Why is it important for designer and specifiers to know about ASR? There are materials used in concrete that can help reduce the risk of ASR occurring; certain structure types, requirements and areas that can increase the risk of ASR, and new testing methodology available to predict the level of risk!

36

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

CONCRETE INSTITUTE NEWS

How much do you know about acid sulfate soils?

Acid sulfate soils are naturally occurring soils that are formed under waterlogged conditions. These soils contain iron sulfide minerals (predominantly as the mineral pyrite) or their oxidation products.

In an undisturbed state below the water table, acid sulfate soils are benign (known as Potential Acid Sulfate Soils).

However, if the soils are drained, excavated, or exposed to air, the sulfides react with oxygen to form sulfuric acid and are known as Actual Acid Sulfate Soils.

Why is it important for designer and specifiers to know about acid sulfate soils?

Engineering construction in areas of potential acid sulfate soil conditions general lead to exposure and ultimately actual acid sulfate soils. Concrete specified in these areas must be designed with appropriate materials and mix design detail to avoid the risk of short and long-term deterioration and loss of strength.

How much do you know about cold weather admixtures?

Whilst most areas of Australia don’t experience weather so cold that it affects concrete placement, the winter months can be conducive to the quality of the concrete. However, in some instances when there are prolonged cold snaps, or construction occurs in areas that are just above 0°C or even below. It can take forever for concrete to harden as the heat of hydration is dramatically affected.

Why is it important for designer and specifiers to know about cold weather admixtures?

It’s not just a simple solution of picking an accelerator to increase the rate of hydration.

What mix has been specified?

Can a blended mix with SCM’s be more beneficial?

What is the impact of admixtures on the designed mix?

Concrete is the most used construction material in the world.

However, there is so much to understand about how it performs in all the various places around the globe in which it is used. The impact of raw materials, manufactured materials, design use, and the environment on the performance of concrete come down to understanding the basics, and putting all the pieces together.

The Concrete Institute of Australia’s Symposium on the Performance of Concrete is being held at various venues nationally during July.

For more details, please visit: www.concreteinstitute.com.au/ concreteperformance

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

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NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

TECH TALK:

MITIGATING CONSTRUCTION RISK WITH PRECAST At National Precast, we strive to educate and provide assistance to professionals within the construction industry. Our Tech Talk series has been developed to address some of the common queries within the precast concrete space. In this issue, we look at mitigating time, cost, and safety risks using precast concrete.

ABOUT CONSTRUCTION RISK As in every industry, the construction industry endeavours to improve business efficiencies.

However, unique challenges arise from complex projects and these complexities can create additional risks.

Construction risk begins at a project’s early conceptual stage and ends as the last finishing trade leaves the site. Risks include time extensions from inadequate programming, delays in material delivery, labour disruptions, safety issues, and inclement weather.

Risk is heightened where project documentation is incomplete, material quality is poor, safety is lacking or workmanship is tardy. If not properly managed, these construction risks can significantly increase a project’s costs.

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

PRECAST TO MINIMISE RISK Using precast concrete in construction addresses many risks. While it is likely the oldest type of prefabrication around, off-site manufactured precast arguably offers the biggest opportunity to improve efficiencies and minimise risk in construction today. While precast concrete isn’t a new phenomenon, the construction benefits of using precast are not fully understood, particularly when it comes to reducing risk.

REDUCING THE RISK OF TIME BLOWOUTS Manufacturing precast components can begin as soon as shop drawings are approved.

Once precast erection commences, on-site construction and off-site manufacture can be overlapped, reducing overall construction times by up to 75%.

Time savings using precast stem from good programming, the benefits of a factory-made environment, a reliable supply of elements that isn’t weather dependent, and speedy construction.

There are additional time-saving benefits when a structure adopts a total precast solution (using walls, floors, beams, columns, stairs and lift shafts). For example, when precast flooring

is used, there is minimal formwork and therefore subsequent trades can continue immediately.

As well, using total precast maximises use of the crane. The skill levels in precast factories are another definite advantage and the high quality of products delivered to site also helps to speed construction and reduce risk.

Precast factories assess and train their workforces, with many employees completing competency assessments for the licensed tasks undertaken in their factory. That means product quality is high and the risk of slowing a project’s program from defective products is minimised.

On site, the increased size and availability of mobile cranes has encouraged larger and heavier elements to be produced, which are now easily lifted directly into position after delivery.

REDUCING THE RISKS OF COST BLOWOUTS Just as using precast will shorten programs – which in itself reduces cost and minimises risk – there are other cost efficiencies that can work to counteract a project’s cost blowouts. A solid understanding of the precast process from the start, alongside meticulous planning, working with the precaster, and reduced time on site will reap rewards.

NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

During design and manufacture, economies of scale can be achieved by maximising repetition of precast elements. The more repetition there is in terms of consistent shapes and sizes, the less need to adjust moulds in the factory before each pour. Maximising element sizes is also important in reducing cost and this will depend on local transport limits.

MINIMISING RISK WITH GOOD DRAWINGS

While proper construction drawings and document management may not spring to mind as the number one cause of a project’s cost and time blowouts, they can be the silent killer for an array of issues. As such, producing fully detailed working drawings before commencing precast manufacture is essential.

With good working drawings, the subsequent shop drawing process which precedes precast manufacture can eliminate many of the time and cost frustrations right from the start.

REDUCING THE RISK OF SAFETY INCIDENTS The construction industry is currently ranked third in the list of annual workplace deaths. As a result, safety costs on site can be significant and anything that can improve site safety is critical.

Factories offer the perfect off-site construction solution, removing major parts of a project’s build from the cluttered and busy site and transferring them to a much safer environment. A controlled factory environment is

going to deliver an obvious improvement on site when it comes to safety.

HOW TO FIND OUT MORE For more information on reducing construction risk with precast refer to Mitigating Construction Risk (National Precast, 2013) and for advanced knowledge of design, manufacture, and the use of precast concrete, refer to the Precast Concrete Handbook (National Precast, 2009) - both available for purchase from: www.nationalprecast.com.au

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

39

NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE ACKNOWLEDGING INDIGENOUS CULTURE WITH GRAPHIC CONCRETE™

PRECAST CONCRETE CHANGING THE GAME AT OPTUS STADIUM PRECASTER: DELTA CORPORATION BUILDER: BROOKFIELD MULTIPLEX ARCHITECT: HASSELL, COX AND HKS ENGINEER: ARUP CLIENT: STATE GOVERNMENT OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA Whether you’re footy-mad, an avid cricket supporter, or a rugger devotee, you’re bound to find an appreciation for the new Optus Stadium in Western Australia. Exhibiting an innovative design committed to a ‘fans first’ approach and acknowledging Western Australia’s sporting, cultural and Aboriginal history, the renewed Stadium offers fans an exciting new venue that is a tribute to the extensive possibilities of architectural precast.

When the world-class stadium opened in January 2018, it was met with local and international acclaim from both the construction sector and general public. Optus Stadium has already hosted a range of blockbuster AFL matches and is set to open up more opportunities for Western Australia to host high calibre national and international sporting, arts, and music events.

FIRST IMPRESSIONS COUNT It is well-documented that the aesthetics of our structures have an impact on a society’s wellbeing, and the new Optus Stadium is a fine 40

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

example of where precast concrete is making its contribution.

When the lights go on, it is the beautiful precast exterior that wraps the action within.

A stunning precast architectural wall façade featuring 4,000m² of panels manufactured by National Precast member, Delta Corporation, creates a wonderful first impression for Stadium visitors.

Delta’s Executive Director, Matt Perrella, says the client chose precast for its architectural finishes and the overall effect is imposing and stunning. “It’s virtually the first thing you see, and it looks amazing,” Mr Perrella explains.

Although specified as a Class 2 finish, the coloured precast concrete façade is of exceptionally high quality. With images etched into selected segments and sandblasted at varied depths, the panels exude contrasting architectural finishes - some with a smooth surface and others with exposed aggregate. Integral colouring using pigments in the concrete mix has produced raw, earthy tones and a saw tooth profile has been achieved using custom moulds that were fabricated specifically for the project.

Mr Perrella says his team has found working on a project of this nature both interesting and challenging. “We enjoyed being part of a project that’s somewhat different to our usual production and this one really pushes the boundaries of what can be achieved with architectural precast,” Mr Perrella details.

The commitment to a ‘fans first’ stadium has resulted in an innovative design that isn’t only delivering an incomparable event atmosphere; it also acknowledges the site’s rich Aboriginal culture and history. This has been done by having the artwork etched into the surface of the precast panels with graphic concrete™. The artwork aims to encourage Stadium visitors to reflect on and appreciate the area’s Indigenous history.

Through the use of graphic concrete™, Delta worked in collaboration with National Precast Industry Partner and graphic concrete™ specialist, ramsetreid, to manufacture a spectacular surface relief that showcases the Nyoongar Aboriginal language and stories. Artwork was provided by the State Government of Western Australia.

“While we use varying degrees of sandblasting very regularly, the graphic art on this project was something really spectacular,” Mr Perrella says.

VERSATILIY THAT GLOWS The new Optus Stadium’s spectacular bronze façade offers fans a glowing first impression. By day it reflects Western Australia’s unique geology and history and by night, the elaborate LED lighting radiates the home team colours. As the new jewel in Western Australia’s crown, it is no wonder the glory of the new structure has been met with local and international acclaim.

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NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

41 X : A DESIGN JOURNEY PROJECT: 41X PRECASTER: EURO PRECAST CLIENT: AUSTRALIAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS ARCHITECT: LYONS ARCHITECTURE Grand heritage and striking contemporary infrastructure fuse to create one of Melbourne’s most recent architectural delights.

As the striking new national office for the Australian Institute of Architects (AIA), 41X was the subject of a two-stage design competition held by the Institute’s National Council and won by Lyons Architecture in 2008. Completed six years later in 2014, the building continues to stand as something of an architectural marvel in the heart of the CBD. Standing proud on a pocket-sized 285m2 allotment on the corner of Exhibition Street and Flinders Lane, 41X is a 22-storey tower and a hub for architecture, AIA staff, and the general public. With precast concrete manufactured by National Precast member, Euro Precast, playing an integral role in the building’s aesthetic and sustainability ambitions, there’s a growing interest for astonishing architecture using offsite manufacturing methods.

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NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

A HYBRID PUBLIC-COMMERCIAL DESIGN According to Director of Lyons Architects, Adrian Stanic, when embarking on the design journey, the focus was on creating a hybridised public and commercial space with extensive sustainability benefits. This idea has been achieved by connecting the city street space with the AIA, which occupies the lower levels of the tower.

“Cantilevered higher levels allow wider footpath space at the base of the building, while a strategically placed publicly-accessible stairway and a public perimeter seating merges the public street with the entrance of the institute,” Mr Stanic details.

The building’s façade features angular precast concrete fins as a reference to the chiselled masonry aesthetic of Melbourne’s public buildings. Defining a rugged exterior, several of the fins have been strategically cut away – or chiselled – to make room for the elevated public spaces that are highlighted with refreshing, bright green soffits.

PRECAST PERMANENCE WITH TRANSPARENCY A hybrid public-commercial space was explored by contrasting the permanence and weight of heavy stone-like materials with corporate transparency.

“An idea that has been around for thousands of years is the idea of how stone and masonry is used to signify permanence in public buildings,” Mr Stanic explains.

“They tend to have a significance that often can relate to the public domain.”

The success of this architectural vision relied heavily upon the use of precast concrete - a product that has allowed the building to be as extravagant as it is durable. Proper design detailing combined with precast’s high-quality manufacturing process allowed Lyons to make their mark for generations to come, through what is a timeless contribution to the city.

OFFSITE MANUFACTURE ENABLES CONSTRUCTION EFFICIENCIES As well as accommodating the architectural design, precast concrete delivered construction efficiencies that were imperative for smooth operations in a congested city location.

Euro Precast was contracted to manufacture a variety of prefabricated concrete elements for the project including fins for the east and west façades, external façade panels to the north, and internal lift, stair and service room panels. As well, 84 horizontal sunshades, 133 columns, and 6,200m2 of BubbleDeck flooring across 230 decks were manufactured by the precaster.

Euro Precast’s Director, George Spiropoulos, says the use of precast concrete minimised onsite material and labour.

“BubbleDeck precast floor panels and precast concrete columns reduced the need for formwork and maximised construction efficiency,” Mr Spiropoulos explains. “Unique external precast concrete panels of complex geometry were integrated with high performance glazing as part of a complete energy efficient facade system.”

CARBON NEUTRALITY WITH 5 STAR RATINGS The architectural brief employed a range of sustainability initiatives that accounted for embodied energy, base building operational energy, transport, and waste. Striving to achieve carbon neutrality, Lyons joined forces with AECOM to develop solutions that took a holistic approach the building’s carbon cycle. Designed to achieve a net zero carbon footprint over its 30-year operating cycle, 41X is one of the first strata-titled commercial office buildings in Melbourne to target carbon neutrality.

With 5-star Green Star and 5-Star NABERS Energy ratings, 41X exemplifies how structures can have a positive impact on the development of their cities through cutting-edge and environmentally responsible buildings.

41X exemplifies unity between the general public and the architectural, engineering and building professions. Making a bold statement about the value of design, the AIA’s new headquarters is reinforcing the value of architecture to the sustainable growth of Melbourne’s city.

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

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NATIONAL PRECAST FEATURE

NATIONAL PRECAST’S TENDER SERVICE: YOUR ONE-STOP SHOP FOR PRECAST The thought of using a tender process may seem like a winding trip down a precariously long road for some civil and infrastructure companies. However, this needn’t be the case when the process is handled the right way. National Precast’s Tender Service provides builders and developers with a userfriendly, trustworthy, and cost-effective tender process.

National Precast’s Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Bachmann, says the Association’s online Tender Service has made their nation-wide network of accredited precast manufactures easily available to the construction industry.

“We know that builders and developers are time-poor and often have limited capacity to screen precast manufacturers to work out whether they're suitable to supply a project,” Ms Bachmann admits.

“We've made that easy for them, because all of our members have undergone thorough checks before being accepted into National Precast's membership.”

The Association’s online Tender Service has been successfully operating since 2015 and Ms Bachmann says it is a go-to service suited to anyone in the infrastructure space.

“Because several of our members manufacture precast for both civil and building projects, the beauty is that talking to just one or two of our members can be a one-stop-shop for an entire project,” Ms Bachmann explains.

The Tender Service has been developed in conjunction with architects, builders, engineers, and precast manufactures, to help ensure a user-friendly process for all parties involved. Not only does this service allow for a smooth process for the client and precaster, but Ms Bachmann believes it also allows for professional relationships to evolve.

“It has shown to be an incredibly time-saving service that also allows builders and developers to start cultivating relationships with our members,” Ms Bachmann says.

“That has flow-on benefits too, as the precaster – when involved early in a project – will often be able to assist with efficiency and cost saving changes that can easily be implemented.”

As a result, the client can be confident that they’re working with accredited and experienced precasters who have passed the Association’s strict membership criteria.

Don’t spend all day chasing manufactures to find the best price. Instead, let them come to you. Ms Bachmann invites relevant businesses to supply National Precast with the details of their next job by filling out the required fields on the Association’s website, “then sit back, relax, and wait for the tenders to arrive”.

National Precast’s Tender Service is available at: www.nationalprecast.com.au

Developed in conjunction with architects, builders, engineers, and precast manufactures, the National Precast online Tender Service provides a userfriendly process for all parties involved.

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

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PRECAST TECHNOLOGY

Today, the Schachen plant specialises in the planning and production of prestressed structural precast concrete elements and, with its many years of experience in industrial and commercial construction, is an important part of the Müller-Steinag Element AG sales company. The latter unites all of the group's plants that are involved in the manufacture of precast concrete elements. Its portfolio extends from large engineering elements for support structures, prestressed elements and highly load-bearing columns through to noise barrier elements and multi-storey car park systems.

SCHACHEN PLANT: FROM THE SUPPLIER TO THE PARTNER ROLE

Tecnocom developed a flexible mould system with two different types of moulds for the Schachen plant: with the first, a 46 metre-long mould for the manufacture of TT slabs.

2-IN-1: HIGHLY FLEXIBLE MOULD SYSTEM GOES INTO PRODUCTION The Swiss Müller-Steinag Group is continuing to invest in the further development of its Schachen plant. The goal is to not only fulfil the role of a supplier, but also that of a partner with holistic building concepts. To meet this need, the company expanded its own engineering department and the machine pool was extended and diversified.

Together with Tecnocom, a Progress Group company, a highly flexible mould system for the manufacture of TT slabs and rod-shaped precast concrete elements was developed and installed. Production started in November 2016 with the manufacture of TT slabs for a major project near Zurich.

Large structural elements for precast concrete construction have been produced at the Müller-Steinag Element AG plant in Schachen near Lucerne for over 35 years. Founded in 1981 as Cavag AG, the company concentrated in the first decades on the production and assembly of silos for 46

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

agriculture, as well as elements for building construction. Since the turn of the millennium and the takeover by the Müller-Steinag Group in 2011, the building construction segment has grown increasingly in importance, and the production and turnover of structural precast concrete elements have increased steadily.

“Each of the group's plants has a core alignment,” explains Thomas Wyss, managing director of the Schachen plant. As far as the Schachen plant is concerned, he says, its alignment has undergone a change in the last ten years.

"We want to get away from the role of the supplier. Our goal is to develop into a partner for our customers that can offer its own concepts.”

For this purpose, the company expanded its own engineering department and began to extend and diversify the machine pool.

“That enables us to no longer act just as a simple supplier of structural elements, but to develop holistic building concepts together with our clients,” Wyss says.

The TT mould can be dismounted from the base frame and replaced by a second mould for the manufacture of rod-shaped precast concrete elements.

PRECAST TECHNOLOGY

Thomas Wyss, Managing Director of the Schachen plant.

HIGHLY FLEXIBLE MOULD SYSTEM FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF TT SLABS AND ROD-SHAPED PRECAST CONCRETE ELEMENTS An important milestone along this route was the investment in a mould system with which TT slabs and rod-shaped structural precast concrete elements can be manufactured according to customer wishes.

When it came to choosing a technology partner to work with on the expansion at the Schachen plant, Müller-Steinag Element AG selected Tecnocom, a Progress Group company specialising in special mould systems.

“Tecnocom convinced us with their technical solutions,” says Thomas Wyss.

The installed mould system consists of a base frame on which two different kinds of moulds can be mounted. Thanks to this flexible alignment, the production can be switched following the manufacture of TT slabs in the first project phase to the manufacture of girders and columns in the

The mould for the production of girders and columns has vertical support frames with a height of up to 2m. These consist of four modules on each side which can be controlled separately by means of electric motors.

second phase. An existing prestressing plant was integrated into the system.

PROJECT-RELATED MANUFACTURE OF TT SLABS The first precast elements made with the new equipment were TT slabs for a project in Leutschenbach near Zurich. The mould was developed and installed especially for the order. It has a length of 46 metres and is equipped with a vibrator system.

“The first TT slabs that we manufactured have a length of 10.5 metres and a width of 2.5 metres,” Wyss explained. “They were used in the construction of the new SRF (Swiss Radio and TV) technical centre.”

Over 250 of precast concrete TT slabs were produced for the SRF project.

With the first part of that project complete, the mould was dismantled and replaced by a second mould for the manufacture of rodshaped components.

The 10.5 metre-long and 2.5 metre-wide TT slabs were used in the construction of the new SRF technical centre near Zurich.

DOUBLING OF OUTPUT THROUGH ADDITIONAL LONGITUDINAL SHUTTERING ELEMENT Using an additional longitudinal shuttering element, the mould can be divided in the middle.

“That allows us to produce two precast concrete elements in parallel, which is effectively the same as doubling the output,” Wyss explained. "Thanks to the electric motors, the lateral shuttering elements can be opened wide enough for that."

MANUFACTURE OF ROD-SHAPED PRECAST CONCRETE ELEMENTS WITH HEIGHTS OF UP TO 2 METRES

HIGHLY FLEXIBLE PRODUCT, TRUSTING COOPERATION

The mould for the rod-shaped precast elements also has a length of 46 metres and has vertical support frames to which the lateral shuttering elements are fastened. The support frames themselves consist of four modules on each side and can be moved with the aid of electric motors. The lateral shuttering elements are thus also separately controllable. The variable height of up to 2 metres provides for additional flexibility.

“The special feature of this mould is that it can be used to produce concrete elements that are both 2 metres in height and very long,” Thomas Wyss said.

The girders and columns are manufactured both in untensioned and pretensioned versions.

For the Müller-Steinag Group, this high level of flexibility is one of the most important properties of the new mould system.

Thomas Wyss is satisfied: “We are not only able to produce TT slabs with a variable cross-section, but also various rod-shaped components - for example columns with corbels.”

Wyss describes the cooperation with Tecnocom as very good throughout.

“Together with their technical know-how and the flexibility of the machines, it was the strong group in the background that enabled us to establish great trust and build a strong cooperative relationship.”

For further information, please visit: www.tecnocom.com

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

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IPWEA NSW NEWS

2018 Local Roads Congress Councils urge action on road safety Councils need to take immediate action to address the horrific road safety toll. That’s the key message to come out of the NSW Local Roads Congress held in Sydney on 4 June 2018. And they are going to need the help of the NSW and Australian Governments to make a real difference.

Councils and experts from across NSW were joined by the President of Local Government NSW, Linda Scott, and Members of Parliament from both sides to develop a way to lower the road toll across NSW. With 392 deaths and more than 12,000 serious injury crashes in 2017 in NSW alone, and the trend going in the wrong direction, the Congress is calling for extra measures to turn the road toll trend around.

Presenting at the Congress, Minister for Roads, Maritime, and Freight Melinda Pavey, MP highlighted the new $125M Saving Lives on Country Roads Program as a significant step forward and called for collaboration between all levels of government. The Minister also confirmed the LG Road Safety Program through to 2021.

IPWEA NSW President Warren Sharpe OAM called on the NSW Government to build on the excellent work being done in partnership IPWEA (NSW), LGNSW and councils.

“Almost 90 per cent of NSW roads are under the control of councils.

We’re urging all councils to identify the most effective actions in their own community by developing road safety plans. To do this, they need skilled engineers and technical officers so IPWEA (NSW) has developed new guidelines. Nearly two-thirds of councils now have trained road safety auditors provided through a partnership between IPWEA (NSW) and the NSW Government."

"We’re calling on the remaining councils to take advantage of this opportunity,” Mr Sharpe said.

“The NSW Government’s transport funding programs provide a once in a generation opportunity for councils to make a real difference to road safety and freight efficiency on local road networks," Mr Sharpe added.

“Despite this, our research clearly shows that communities in the bush need additional ongoing financial support. We’ve put the case that Federal Assistance Grants should be re-distributed to regional NSW with city councils able to sustain their income by rating high density development vertically. Any re-distributed funding must be tied to roads,” Mr Sharpe said.

The Opposition agrees. Shadow Minister for Transport and Roads, Maritime, and Freight, Jodi MacKay, MP and Shadow Minister for Local Government Peter Primrose MLC, were united in their support of the redistribution of FAG funding at the Congress.

IPWEA (NSW) Roads & Transport Directorate Manager, Mick Savage, outlined the importance of additional funding in the bush.

“Rural areas produce the food and resources we all rely on in the city. A million dollars a year extra at Moree or Griffith spent on their local road network just means so much more, and when two-thirds of all fatalities are occurring in regional NSW, it just makes sense to provide greater support in our regional areas to lower the road toll," Mr Savage said.

The Congress also heard from Dr John Crozier, Trauma Chair, Royal Australasian College of Surgeons, who left no doubt as to the 50

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

impacts of road crashes. In a confronting presentation, he outlined an ‘average day’ in a hospital emergency ward, including that for every serious injury recorded, there were an additional seven presentations to hospitals from road crashes.

NSW Police, Australian Trucking Association, Centre for Road Safety, State Emergency Services, National Heavy Vehicle Regulator and the Newell Highway Taskforce all backed further measures to address improved road safety and transport and road worker safety. Mayor of Parkes, Ken Keith OAM, further called on Councils to develop new cadet Engineers to grow skilled professionals of the future from their own towns.

NSW Staysafe Committee Chair Greg Aplin, MP wrapped up the Congress outlining recent successes including compulsory minimum driver training for young drivers but highlighted speeding, drink and drug driving, fatigue and driver distraction as remaining road safety challenges.

Delegates adopted a communique calling for the development of a sustainable and more equitable funding model to look after roads, target road safety and open up local road network to more efficient transport to better service our community and drive the NSW economy forward.

The communique is available for download from: https://www.ipwea.org/roadstransportdirectorate/aboutrd/ new-item/congress

Presenting at the Congress, NSW Minister for Roads, Maritime, and Freight Melinda Pavey, MP highlighted the new $125M Saving Lives on Country Roads Program as a significant step forward.

IPWEA NSW NEWS

National Cadet Engineering Program IPWEA NSW is recommending that the Australian Government play a role in incentivising Local Government to directly engage Cadet Engineers within Councils across Australia. The delivery and on-going stewardship of critical infrastructure will require qualified and skilled professional Engineers to ensure value for money.

IPWEA NSW undertook a skills audit across NSW Councils and collated data from recent membership surveys. The trend is very clear.

With 53% of Engineers responding now over 50 years of age, and a skills shortage already evident, it is clear Governments across all levels must act now to immediately incentivise investment in new skilled and qualified Engineers for the future.

Only 53% of NSW Councils have a Cadet Engineering program. This is a self-fulfilling prophecy and unless addressed the skills shortage will develop into a crisis scenario.

The Government has introduced excellent incentive programs for Civil Construction trainees and apprentices, but how is the shortage of qualified Engineers being addressed?

With the right incentive programs, Councils can offer a breeding ground for future professionals to deliver high quality infrastructure and services to their communities. In regional areas of Australia, this offers the opportunity for employing and retaining young innovators of the future within regional townships.

We urge the Australian Government to adopt a policy setting that offers support to Councils through a National Cadet Engineering Program. This program should offer initial funding support, and graduated retention payments to Councils to train and grow people for the future. The Australian Government should also investigate ways to partner with Universities and professional associations to deliver fit for purpose training and on-going development.

We also urge the Australian Government to support a universal national registration scheme for Engineers for the whole of Australia, and to encourage all States to incorporate this into their own jurisdictions through appropriate legislation (eg NSW Roads Act).

IPWEA (NSW) welcomes record $87.2B investment in infrastructure by the NSW Government Speaking after the NSW budget, IPWEA (NSW) President Warren Sharpe OAM highlighted the diversity of the NSW Government's approach to addressing key infrastructure challenges.

"There is a clear recognition by the NSW Government that they need to address both the challenges to take Sydney forward as an economic powerhouse as well as provide the infrastructure within regional NSW to drive the significant employment and decentralisation outside of the Sydney basin,” Mr Sharpe said.

"The extensive investment in rail within Sydney including the forward reservation of $3B for Metro West and $5.7B for Sydney Metro City and South West projects means the Government is looking ahead to embed the three cities concept and shift more commuters onto modern accessible rail. Their challenge now is to deliver these alternate transport modes to mitigate the number of cars on city roads," he said.

"In regional areas we're seeing record investment in the State highway system with major allocations to the Pacific and Princes Highways. For local roads the Bridges for The Bush ($335M) and Fixing Country Roads ($543M) Programs will provide Councils the opportunity to overcome freight impediments and improve the productivity of agriculture, forestry and other agribusinesses. These works are vital given the reliance on road transport in regional NSW." "The additional $390M for road safety over the next four years is badly needed with 392 fatalities and more than 12,000 serious injuries on our roads in 2017, and the trend has worsened each year since 2014. With Local Government looking after 90% of NSW roads, it is vital that the NSW Government better support local Councils through improved capacity building in pro-active road safety planning, and by funding road safety measures, particularly in regional NSW where over two thirds of fatalities occur," Mr Sharpe said.

"We also welcome programs such as the Stronger Country Communities Program.

Whilst smaller in scale, these funds allow Councils in regional NSW to improve the quality of life for their communities by providing improvements to local parks, community halls, playgrounds and sporting facilities," he added.

"Perhaps the biggest single infrastructure issue across regional NSW remains water security and wastewater management. The NSW Government's $1B Safe and Secure program provides an excellent starting point however it will clearly not be sufficient to meet the many challenges across NSW. This really is essential infrastructure for the economic prosperity of NSW, and for the public health and social wellbeing of our communities as well as for the protection of our environment,” Mr Sharpe said.

"The NSW Government has wisely established funding to investigate the best use of the $4.2B windfall from the sale of Snowy Hydro. They've indicated these funds will be used for 'major state building' projects in regional NSW. We would certainly encourage the Government to investigate using part of the funds to increase the funding for essential infrastructure to address water security and upgrades to ageing sewerage infrastructure across NSW, ideally incorporating the latest technologies in energy saving and generation.”

"The recognition of the NSW Government of the need to provide a significant boost in apprentices is also a significant and critical step forward for the future. We encourage Government to extend these incentives to address the significant skills shortage and diversity of qualified professionals working in the infrastructure space. Both of these measures are essential legacy actions that should flow from the record $87.2B investment in infrastructure to keep NSW moving forward,” Mr Sharpe added.

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IPWEA NSW NEWS

IPWEA (NSW) Emerging Technologies Conference IPWEA (NSW) Emerging Technologies Conference was held during June for the 2nd year at the InterContinental Hotel Sydney. Hosted by Michael Pascoe, Finance Commentator the program showcased new technologies within the public infrastructure sector. Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure Paul Fletcher MP opened the conference with a thought provoking speech dedicated to ensuring the industry growth is managed and addressed concerns of data sharing by announcing the National Infrastructure Data Collection and Dissemination Plan. The Final Data Plan summarises priority projects aimed at addressing infrastructure data and information gaps.

Professor James Murray Parkes, Director of Science & Engineering of Brookfield Scientific Solutions Group was our first Keynote presenter of the day and provided many wow moments with his intelligent, fascinating inventions and creations of energy sources of the future.

Other presenters included Minister Keith Pitt MP, Assistant Minister to the Deputy Prime Minister, and Chris Gwynne of Hydro Tasmania. Michael Pascoe provided an economic update and then delegates looked into what is the new technology “Collaboration”, with a panel discussing the importance of “Collaboration” in building Western City to meet the needs of communities by “Building Resilient

(L-R) IPWEA (NSW Division) CEO John Roydhouse and Federal Minister for Urban Infrastructure Paul Fletcher MP at the recent IPWEA (NSW) Emerging Technologies Conference.

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Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

The Panel Session on Day 2, provided the catalyst for great debate on the safety of autonomous vehicles and how they will be incorporated into future living.

Communities”. The first day finished with a look into the Western Sydney City Deal as David Borger of the Sydney Business Chamber showed delegates how the deal is being executed.

Day 2 kicked off with the hot topic “Autonomous Vehicles”. Rita Excell, Executive Director of ADVI opened the session with a keynote presentation on “Future Transport Technologies” followed by a panel session of experts on autonomous vehicles including Dr Ashley Brinson of the Warren Centre, John Wall of Transport NSW, David Pickett, Vovlo Australia and Rita Excell. The session provided great debate on the safety of the vehicles and how they will be incorporated into future living and tackled the question “…are we really prepared for this forthcoming invention”.

Presentations followed on Drones, 3D Mapping, Solar Bins and the NSW Police Force new technologies. The conference finished with a presentation on new technologies being developed in the Water Catchment and Tim Day of Isle Utilities, revealed the latest emerging water and cleantech technologies.

The conference exposed the world of innovation and new technologies in the sector, presented by experts in their field.

It raised many questions, was a great catalyst for debate and also provided valuable answers on how to prepare for the modern-day changes that will affect our communities.

IPWEA NSW NEWS

Professional Development IPWEA (NSW) is a Registered Training Organisation (RTO) and offers a number of different short but intense courses to minimise cost and time away from your workplace. These courses are very popular and are designed to help you develop the skills required in your profession.

IPWEA (NSW) can also tailor our course content to match your specific needs or we can develop an entirely new program for your organisation. All of our workshops can be delivered in-house to ensure all individuals training needs are met, including those living in remote areas of New South Wales.

CONDUCT ROAD SAFETY AUDIT (ASQA) • Prepare to conduct road safety audits • Conduct road safety audits • Lead road safety audits This workshop has been developed to explain the purpose and procedures followed in Road Safety Audits. The workshop works through the AustRoads Guidelines and discusses case studies of Audits already undertaken. Day and night audits of selected local projects are performed by delegates.

The Guidelines provide practitioners and decision makers with ways to formally address road safety issues before accidents occur. They are based on the latest information available and incorporate the combined experience of State road authorities throughout Australia, local government and Transit National

Who should attend?

The course is designed for design engineers, construction engineers, NSW Police, Maintenance Engineers, Consultants, RMS Personnel, Road Safety Officers and personnel involved in the design, construction and maintenance of roads.

MANAGE A LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROJECT (ASQA) The course is designed to introduce fundamental project management principles and techniques for specific application to Local Government related work. The course is appropriate for all Local Government Staff (works officers included) who are interested in the effective planning, implementation and evaluation of project work.

Participants who successfully undertake assessment associated with this course, will receive a statement of attainment for the following unit of competency from the Local Government Training Package: LGACOMP025 Manage a Local Government Project.

This unit of competency can be used as a building block towards Certificate IV and Diploma level qualifications. Information about VET training and assessment offered

by IPWEA (NSW) can be found in the IPWEA 'Participant Handbook'.

For a copy of the handbook please contact Elsie Pathmanathan, Email: elsie.p@ ipwea.org or phone: 02 8267 3008.

CONTACT ADMINISTRATION & CONTRACT LAW This course covers the administration of

Local Government contracts and the basic elements of Contact Law. Administration of contracts applies to contracts being carried out by internal or external providers and the program will look at the process form the selection of the contractor through to practical completion.

Contract Law, will include various features and changes in standard form contracts used in civil works. Current requirements and foreshadowed developments for NSW public sector contracting will be covered with particular reference to local government.

The course will provide an understanding of standard form contracts and of risk sharing as affected by the form of contract. You will be made aware of latent and other conditions and get an overview of the duties and discretions of the superintendent. Participants will be informed about contract terms, contract documents and some features and changes in the standard form contract documents.

Who should attend?

The course is designed for local government practitioners, including engineering, finance, administration and other managers who are involved in the decision-making process as well as administration and management of contracts.

For further information on any of the professional development workshops and training courses offered by IPWEA (NSW Division) please visit the website: www.ipwea.org/newsouthwales/ professionaldevelopment

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

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ACA CORROSION FEATURE

An infrastructure asset base should be designed to be safe and reliable, while maintaining acceptable levels of service for the duration of the expected life of the asset. This requires asset owners and managers to develop and implement optimised approaches with often limited budgets. The balance of all these factors is even more important if the service life of an asset needs to be extended.

Many governments and organisations that own and operate existing aging infrastructure are increasingly requiring it to exceed the original design life. If appropriate asset management strategies are implemented, it is possible to restore an asset to near its original condition and maintain its functionality for the remaining service life and, possibly, even beyond.

As a consequence of restricted budgets, larger asset portfolios and increased pressure to extend asset life, many industries now recognise the importance of asset management processes for asset owners who need to balance risk, productivity and operation.

A significant part of any asset base will suffer from corrosion to some degree, so the designed durability and corrosion management form part of, and support, good asset-management practices. The benefits of a well-developed asset-management plan include: a better understanding of the total asset base; an understanding of how assets with corrosion impact the operation and performance of the network; and making it clear when to intervene and address issues in order to avoid asset failure.

When any asset is affected by corrosion, the damage can threaten its longevity and serviceability, which in turn may impact both its own functionality as well as that of other related infrastructure.

PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT OF CORRODED ASSETS The degradation of private and public assets and infrastructure continues to have a major economic impact on industry and the wider community. In Australia, the yearly cost of asset maintenance is estimated to be approximately $32 billion, with $8 billion attributed to avoidable corrosion damage, according to a report commissioned by NACE, the international body for professional corrosion engineers.[1] 54

Construction Engineering Australia • June/July 2018

ACA CORROSION FEATURE

Many years of experience at global consulting firm AECOM illustrate that a wide variety of asset-management strategies can be effective in the design and operation of assets affected by corrosion. In new assets for instance, considerations towards balancing development, construction and operational costs can yield optimal solutions for maintenance, safety, reliability and mitigation of corrosion risk during the required life of the asset.

At the Australasian Corrosion Association's (ACA) Corrosion and Prevention 2017 conference and trade exhibition in Sydney, Sarah Furman, Associate Director in the Strategic Asset Management and Advanced Materials team at AECOM, presented a brief overview of managing assets with corrosion based on the company’s extensive experience. The ACA's annual conference is just one of the many ways the organisation collaborates with industry and academia to research all aspects of corrosion mitigation in order to provide an extensive knowledge base that supports best practice in corrosion management, with a view to ensuring that impacts of corrosion are responsibly managed, the environment is protected, public safety is enhanced and economies are improved.

Understanding the relevance of corrosion’s impact on performance is critical for the development of an appropriate assetmanagement strategy for existing assets. Corrosion issues can lead to a decrease in the levels of service provided by the assets and plans allow asset owners the opportunity to optimise the extent and timing of future intervention and potentially mitigate some of the associated costs.

The release of the international asset-management standard, ISO 55001 (2014), and other supporting guidelines, such as the International Infrastructure Management Manual (IIMM), provides consulting engineers and asset owners and managers

with guidance on the strategic whole-of-life management of an asset base, along with a number of processes, techniques and approaches that can be adopted to achieve this goal.

According to Dr Frédéric Blin, who leads AECOM’s Strategic Asset Management and Advanced Materials team in Victoria, South Australia and Tasmania, the ISO 55000 series is an important standard, but its acceptance and use seems to vary across industry sectors and geographies.

“More and more organisations are seeking to align themselves to the ISO 55000 series in Australia, but not necessarily be certified to meet it,” he said. “However, tram and train operators in the State of Victoria have to be certified to ISO 55001 standards.”

“In Australia, the ISO 55000 series is seen as a representation of good practice and a useful benchmark point for organisations,” added Dr Torill Pape, Asset Management and Technical Specialist for Bridge Assets at AECOM. “The suite of ISO 55000 documents outline the ‘what and why’ for asset management, which is complemented by guidelines stipulating how to achieve the stated requirements at a strategic, tactical and operational level, such as the International Infrastructure Management Manual (IIMM),” Dr Pape continued.

Discussions about the implementation and adoption of the standard have taken place at a variety of industry technical forums, such as the ACA conference.

A durability plan, coupled with an asset register, provides an additional and useful baseline against which to monitor the condition and performance of the assets over time and thereby to tailor plans accordingly. It is a critical tool that supports an overarching asset-management strategy. The plan should clearly outline likely corrosion-related risks and agreed mitigation approaches as early as possible in an asset’s lifecycle - and ideally during the planning and design stage. In developing asset-management strategies for existing, ageing structures, the maintenance requirements need to be optimised between shortand long-term strategies in order to minimise the disruption to operations, while providing a safe and reliable asset.

“While transport and public services rely on external advisory services such as consultants to supplement decision making,” Dr Pape added, “there is also a growing desire for a better in-house understanding of improved practices in asset management.”

“To enable and demonstrate robust decision-making, asset owners welcome support and guidance from their advisors,” said Ms Furman.

Deterioration modelling is another useful tool to support decision-making and asset-management processes.

“This kind of simulation is usually numerical modelling that simulates conditions versus time,” said Ms Furman. “Modelling output can be used both in the design phase for projects yet to be built, as well as for existing structures.”

“There is a lot of real world and site-specific data included in the models we create for deterioration modelling,” Ms Furman added.

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“The accuracy of the models depends on the reliability of the input data, and good review protocols and data-auditing processes are needed to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the data.”

“Modelling is just one tool in a suite used by engineers to inform them about an asset’s performance and to identify and develop cost-effective and risk-informed management strategies,” said Dr Pape.

Decision-making processes are also improving with an increased focus on data analytics that supplement data collection and enable asset managers to develop informed maintenance and rehabilitation plans.

“The technology landscape is rapidly changing as well,” Dr Blin said. “It is now possible to gather and store huge amounts of data, which requires data analysts to provide organisations with the insights that support optimised decision-making.”

The ongoing impact of corrosion and its cost continue to be a major expense for government and industry, but organisations such as the ACA and AECOM continue to

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research ways to effectively and efficiently manage corrosion so that both the impact and cost can be reduced.

[1] The report referenced in the introduction is Koch, G. et al “International Measure of Prevention, Application, and Economics of Corrosion Technologies Study”, NACE International, 2016. It is available for download at: http://impact.nace.org/documents/Nace-InternationalReport.pdf

ABOUT THE AUSTRALASIAN CORROSION ASSOCIATION The Australasian Corrosion Association Incorporated (ACA) is a not-for-profit, membership association, that disseminates information on corrosion and its prevention through the provision of training courses, seminars, conferences, publications and other activities.

The vision of the ACA is that corrosion is managed sustainably and cost effectively to ensure the health and safety of the community and protection of the environment.

For further information, please visit: www.corrosion.com.au

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